Despite a notable upturn in performance with Rangers, Cyriel Dessers won’t be making the trip to the African Cup of Nations with Nigeria, and manager Jose Peseiro has shed light on the decision.
Dessers, often criticised during his brief stint at Ibrox, showcased improvement recently, contributing significantly with a crucial goal against Real Betis and a precise assist for Ross McCausland against Kilmarnock over the weekend.
With 16 goal involvements in 30 Rangers appearances, Dessers had hoped his recent resurgence would secure his place in the AFCON squad. However, falling just short of the final 25, Portuguese boss Peseiro explained the rationale behind the exclusion.
He stated, “We could have taken 27 players, but the Federation decided to go with 25, and I agreed because it is easy to manage this number.” Peseiro elaborated on the selection process, considering a pool of 41 players initially.
The final list was shaped by assessing players’ performances both for the national team and their respective clubs. Current form, consistent play, and physical condition were key factors in making the challenging decisions.
Peseiro acknowledged the difficulty in selecting the final 25 but emphasized the responsibility he carried, expressing hope and optimism for the chosen squad’s success in the upcoming tournament.
Nigeria’s midfield maestro, 27-year-old Wilfred Ndidi of Leicester City, faces a setback as he is ruled out of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations due to injury. Despite being named in the Super Eagles’ 25-man squad, Ndidi was noticeably absent from his club’s recent victory over Huddersfield Town.
Royal Antwerp midfielder Alhassan Yusuf has been called up to replace Ndidi. On a positive note for the team, fellow Leicester City teammate Kelechi Iheanacho, is expected to join the squad. Iheanacho, who has been sidelined for the past two games in the Championship due to a muscle problem, looks set to contribute to Nigeria’s campaign in the tournament.
Nigeria is gearing up to kick off their Group A journey against Equatorial Guinea on January 14. The West African side will also face hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage. The absence of Ndidi is undoubtedly a blow, but the inclusion of Iheanacho provides a ray of hope for the Super Eagles as they embark on their AFCON journey.
In the face of significant injuries, Mali has introduced fresh talent to their squad for the upcoming African Cup of Nations tournament. Wolverhampton Wanderers’ uncapped midfielder Boubacar Traore and Lorient striker Sirine Doucoure make their debut appearances in the 27-man squad.
Traore, formerly of Metz in France, secured a move to Wolves last year and boasts previous experience with Mali at the junior level, including winning the African under-20 championship in 2019. Doucoure, who has predominantly served as a substitute this season, brings his skills from Ligue 1, having scored one goal.
Coach Eric Chelle, dealing with the absence of key players in Ivory Coast, strategically included Traore and Doucoure as replacements before the Wednesday deadline. Crystal Palace’s Cheick Doucoure misses out due to Achilles tendon surgery, while El Bilal Toure from Atalanta is still recovering from a serious thigh injury.
The sidelined players also include Ibrahima Kone based in Spain, fullback Massadio Haidara from Racing Lens, and former Southampton winger Moussa Djenepo, currently with Standard Liege in Belgium.
Mali is set to face Guinea-Bissau in a friendly in Bamako on Saturday before heading to Ivory Coast. Their Group E campaign kicks off against the Bafana Bafana (South Africa) on January 16, and they will also compete against Tunisia and Namibia in the group stage.
The new additions to the squad bring a mix of talent and promise as Mali navigates the challenges posed by injuries ahead of the AFCON tournament.
Manchester United’s goalkeeper, Andre Onana, is reportedly attempting to delay his departure for AFCON until the last possible moment, fearing the potential loss of his starting position to Altay Bayindir.
While Premier League clubs were initially required to release players for AFCON duty on January 1st, United has managed to secure Onana’s availability for the FA Cup tie against Wigan and aim to retain him for the Tottenham encounter on January 14th.
Onana faces a challenging schedule, with a seven-hour flight to join Cameroon for their AFCON opener just 24 hours after the Spurs match. An early AFCON exit would allow him to return for the FA Cup’s fourth round, minimising the impact on club games.
However, if Cameroon reaches the AFCON final on February 11th, Onana could miss up to four crucial Premier League matches. This situation opens the door for backup keeper Altay Bayindir to potentially make his debut for United.
If he impresses, it could create pressure on manager Erik ten Hag to reconsider his choice for the number one goalkeeper. Onana has faced criticism for his performances this season, making several high-profile mistakes and conceding 45 goals in 28 appearances across all competitions.
As Bayindir prepares for a potential breakthrough, Onana’s AFCON participation adds an intriguing dimension to United’s goalkeeping dynamics.
The Black Stars commenced their training camp in Kumasi on January 2, 2024, in preparation for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Cote D’Ivoire.
The team, consisting of 24 players, underwent their first day of training at the Dr. Kwame Kyei Sports Complex due to unfavorable pitch conditions at the Baba Yara Sports stadium.
Led by coach Chris Hughton, the technical team conducted a thorough inspection of both the Baba Yara and Dr. Kwame Kyei stadiums before deciding to relocate the initial training session.
The 24 players who participated on Tuesday included notable names like Joseph Wollacott, Andre Ayew, Mohammed Salisu, Ernest Nuamah, Osman Bukari, Daniel Amartey etc.
Among the upcoming activities, Ghana is set to face Namibia in an international friendly on January 8, 2024. Stay tuned for more updates as the Black Stars gear up for the prestigious tournament. Below are some pictures from today’s training session.
