The 29th African Cup of Nations (AFCON) was scheduled to take place from January 19 to February 10, 2013, in South Africa. The participation of African players from European clubs in the tournament often poses challenges for their respective clubs, as they have to manage the absence of key players during the competition.
In this case, Lille faced concerns as two of its offensive players, Salomon Kalou from Ivory Coast and Ryan Mendes from Cape Verde, were set to join their national teams for the AFCON. The departure of both Kalou and Mendes created challenges for Lille’s coach, Rudi Garcia. In an interview with L’Équipe, Garcia expressed his concerns, stating, “Kalou and Mendes together at the CAN, it’s a bit of the worst combination for us.”
The absence of these key players, who could effectively play on the flanks of Lille’s attack, prompted considerations about bringing back Englishman Joe Cole to the squad. Cole, who had previously played for Lille, was being reconsidered as a potential solution to the team’s challenges during the AFCON period.
Managing the absence of players due to international competitions is a common concern for football clubs, and coaches often need to adapt their strategies and squad selections to navigate through such periods.
