The African Cup of Nations (CAN) in South Africa 2013, scheduled from January 19 to February 10, will impact the rosters of foreign clubs with African players, as these players will join their national teams. Olympique de Marseille (OM) is one such club affected by this, and the elimination of Nicolas Nkoulou’s Cameroon has brought about mixed emotions.
An OM manager expressed this bivalence, stating, “We are disappointed for Nico, but it is reassuring for the club to be able to count on him in January.” Nkoulou, a pivotal figure in Marseille’s defense, will now be available for the club during the CAN 2013 period.
However, Marseille will have to cope without the services of other African players during this time. Charles Kaboré (Burkina Faso), the Ayew brothers (Ghana), and Senah Mango (Togo) have all qualified with their respective national teams, and Marseille will miss their contributions during the tournament.
