Fiorentina’s prolific striker, Mbala Nzola, has declined his call-up to represent the Angola national team in the imminent African Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled to unfold in Ivory Coast from January 13 to February 11, 2024.
The Angolan Football Federation (FAF) received the surprising news from the 27-year-old forward, who, despite initially expressing his availability for selection, reconsidered his participation due to impending commitments with Fiorentina in January.
Nzola’s decision, conveyed to the FAF through the Angop press agency, caught the football community off guard and may have lasting repercussions, with Coach Pedro Gonçalves contemplating a potential exclusion from future national team selections.
Fiorentina, responding to this development, asserted that they would not exert pressure on the player, leaving the final decision entirely in Nzola’s hands.
However, should he affirm his refusal, Fiorentina, initially considering recruitment to offset his absence, has now indicated a lack of pursuit for a new attacker.
This implies reduced competition for Nzola, who has encountered challenges in securing a regular place in the team, registering only one goal in 17 Serie A matches this season, with Fiorentina currently holding the fifth position in the league.
Mbala Nzola, hailing from Troyes and joining Florence last summer following a standout season with La Spezia (13 goals in Serie A), now faces a delicate situation navigating club responsibilities and national duties.
The decision raises questions about the impact on Nzola’s career, holding six caps with two goals to his credit, and the potential ramifications for Angola’s team composition as they gear up for the upcoming tournament.
Coach Gonçalves retains the flexibility to make alterations to his squad until January 3, adding an element of uncertainty to the final AFCON roster.
La non-participation à la CAN de Mbala Nzola 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭 la possibilité d’un nouvel avant-centre en janvier pour la Fiorentina. ❌
Son mauvais début de saison l’obligerait à rester en Italie pour essayer de se rattraper.
1 but en 17 matchs de Serie A. 😵💫 pic.twitter.com/OwwS5x3XY7
— PALANCAS NEGRAS 🇦🇴 (@_PalancasNegras) December 25, 2023
