Gabriel Zakuani Ruled Out of AFCON as DR Congo Prepare for Semi-Finals
Gabriel Zakuani’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations campaign has come to an early end due to injury, with the Peterborough defender sidelined by a sprained ankle.
Zakuani, who was drafted into the starting lineup for DR Congo’s quarter-final clash against Congo in place of Kimwaki, suffered the injury during the match and was forced off at halftime. Medical assessments indicate he will be out of action for around ten days, ruling him out for the remainder of the tournament, which concludes this Sunday.
As a result, the Leopards will face a stern challenge when they take on Ivory Coast in the semi-finals on Wednesday without the services of the experienced defender.
Adding to concerns for coach Florent Ibenge, uncertainty remains over the availability of team captain Youssuf Mulumbu. The midfielder has missed the last two matches after sustaining a thigh strain during the group stage fixture against Cape Verde and has yet to fully recover.
The absence of these key players presents a significant test for DR Congo’s defensive resilience as they prepare to take on the highly-fancied Elephants in the penultimate match of the tournament.
