South African striker Lyle Foster has officially withdrawn from the upcoming AFCON 2023, set to take place in Ivory Coast from January 11 to February 11, 2024.
Burnley coach Vincent Kompany confirmed the unfortunate news, citing Foster’s ongoing recovery process.
Foster had been absent from South Africa’s recent 2026 World Cup qualifier matches against Benin and Rwanda, and it has now been revealed that his return to full fitness is still pending, rendering him unable to participate in the prestigious African tournament.
Vincent Kompany expressed his disappointment at the situation, emphasizing Foster’s unwavering commitment to his country. “Unfortunately, at the moment he is unable to join the national team.
He just can’t. His love for his country knows no bounds, and his desire to do good knows no bounds. But, this would go against the opinion of all the experts who have assisted him in recent months,” stated Kompany during a press interaction.
Lyle Foster, who had made a promising start to the Premier League season with three goals in seven games for Burnley, faced unavailability challenges last month.
Despite his enthusiasm for representing South Africa in the continental championship, the decision to withdraw was based on expert advice.
Kompany, acknowledging the significance of the AFCON, highlighted the importance of prioritizing Foster’s well-being. “I am a coach of African origin, so for me, the CAN is very important, and I am very proud of any player who represents us there because I think this tournament deserves the same importance as the Euro,” he stated. “But, for his condition in particular, the human being, he is not yet at a stage where he can do all that.”
Expressing optimism for Foster’s future contributions, Kompany concluded, “I hope that in the future, he will be able to do much more for everyone on the big stage, but, step by step. Lyle is making progress.
He’s still in treatment, but we’ve been fortunate to be able to work with him on a physical level. His progress is about what you’d want in terms of mental health, but physically he’s also in a good position.”
