Football enthusiasts are gearing up for an exciting feast of football as they anticipate the kickoff of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire.
The continental tournament is set to unfold from January 13 to February 11, featuring the participation of 24 national teams.
However, the AFCON stage will miss the presence of several star players, including Nigeria’s Victor Boniface, Cameroon’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, and Ivorian winger Wilfried Zaha.
French news agency AFP highlighted the notable absences from the AFCON edition as follows:
Boniface and Ndidi:
Just days before Nigeria’s first match, Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface sustained an injury during the Eagles’ preparations.
The absence of the young striker (23 years old) deals a significant blow to his country’s chances in the AFCON.
His teammate, Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi (27 years old), is also ruled out due to injury.
Choupo-Moting:
Cameroon’s head coach, Rigobert Song, decided to exclude Bayern Munich striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting for tactical reasons.
The veteran Choupo-Moting (34 years old) has scored 20 goals for the Indomitable Lions in 73 appearances.
Zaha and Baily:
Ivorian coach Jean-Louis Gasset excluded Galatasaray forward Wilfried Zaha for tactical reasons. Zaha, the former Crystal Palace winger, has played 31 matches for the Ivory Coast, scoring 5 goals.
Additionally, Gasset also left out defender Eric Bailly for tactical reasons.
Zakaria Boukhallal:
Toulouse star Zakaria Boukhallal will miss the African tournament due to an injury sustained during a European league match.
Despite his young age, Boukhallal (20 years old) has featured in 20 matches for the Atlas Lions, scoring 3 goals.
Hannibal Mejbri:
Manchester United player Hannibal Mejbri is notably absent from the Tunisian national team at his own request, according to coach Jalal Kaderi.
Mejbri, who only played nine matches for Manchester United this season after returning from a loan spell with Birmingham, will not participate in the AFCON.
Foster:
Belgian coach Hugo Broos, in charge of the South African national team, announced the exclusion of promising Burnley striker Lyle Foster.
Broos heeded the advice of his compatriot Vincent Kompany, Burnley’s coach, regarding Foster’s exclusion due to ongoing mental health issues.
As the AFCON unfolds without these key players, football fans worldwide await the drama and excitement that will undoubtedly characterize this prestigious tournament.
The absence of these stars adds an intriguing layer to the competition, leaving fans to speculate on how their respective teams will cope in their quest for glory.
