List of African Big names set to miss 2023 Afcon qualifiers due to injury
With the first two rounds of the qualifying matches for next year’s finals in the Ivory Coast kicking off on Wednesday, GOAL profiles top stars who did not win the fitness race
The qualifying campaign for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, set to take place in Ivory Coast, begins on Wednesday with three matches on the cards.Information Guide Nigeria
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Live, Study and Work in Canada. No Payment is Required! Hurry Now click here to Apply >> Immigrate to CanadaGhana, who last tasted Afcon victory 40 years ago, start their campaign against Madagascar while Angola host Central African Republic as Botswana visit Libya.
The first two rounds of the qualifiers, which will be played daily from June 1-9 with further fixtures on June 13, will be without a number of top players who are nursing injuries.
Let’s take a look at seven big names who did not win the fitness race for the June qualifiers.
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Wilfred Ndidi
The Nigeria midfielder has been out since March 17 when he suffered a knee injury in Leicester City’s Europa Conference League round of 16-second leg clash against Stade Rennais.
Thomas Partey
Partey suffered the injury during Arsenal’s 3-0 loss to Crystal Palace in the Premier League and has not been able to play again. He will also be absent for the away clash against Central African Republic on June 5.
Gervinho
The veteran forward was among key players omitted from the Cote d’Ivoire squad by new coach Jean-Louis Gasset as he is still recovering from injury.
Riyad Mahrez
Fresh from winning the Premier League title with Manchester City, the Algeria captain will not be available for the Desert Foxes’ clash at home to Uganda on June 4 and away to Tanzania four days later after he was deemed unfit for international duty by City.
Bouna Sarr
The Bayern Munich right-back will be missing when the African champions start their qualifying campaign against Benin in Dakar on June 4 and will also be absent for the away trip to Rwanda three days later due to an injury.
Bamba Dieng
Like Sarr, Senegal will also be without the injured Marseille forward Dieng. The 22-year-old, who scored two goals in the 2021 Afcon finals, has been another option in attack for Senegal whenever Cisse required something different upfront but the tactician will have to do without him for the matches against Benin and Rwanda where the Teranga Lions are favourites to win.
Joseph Aidoo
The latest to be ruled out due to injury, the 26-year-old Ghana defender twisted his right ankle during training with the Black Stars and has been ruled out of Wednesday’s clash against Madagascar at Cape Coast Stadium.JAMB Result
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