With five days to the start of the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, ABIODUN ADEWALE highlights 11 stars who make up the biggest absentees at the tournament.
GOALKEEPER
Adebayo Adeleye (Nigeria)
Israel-based Nigerian goalkeeper, Adebayo Adeleye, will have to wait for his first appearance at a major competition for Nigeria after he was left out of Nigeria’s final 25-man squad.
Despite showing positive signs during his full debut against Sierra Leone during the AFCON qualifiers in June 2023, Adeleye didn’t get a place among coach Jose Peseiro’s three goalkeepers for the tournament in Ivory Coast. He was named in the 41-man provisional squad but the Portuguese coach opted for the embattled Francis Uzoho, Chippa United’s Stanley Nwabali and Enyimba’s Olorunleke Ojo who is the only Nigeria-based player in the squad.
Adeleye will hope to stake a claim for a space in the Super Eagles again after the tournament.
DEFENDERS
Tariq Lamptey (Ghana)
Brighton right back Lamptey, who has been out for about two months, is top of Ghana’s long list of absentees ahead of the tournament. Since he limped off in Brighton’s 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest in November, the defender has not played for Brighton as the club confirmed that he would remain unfit for three months.
Joseph Aidoo (Ghana)
Another Ghanaian, Aidoo, will be one of the biggest absentees in the Ghana squad ahead of the 2023 AFCON. He sustained an injury in a friendly game in October, his club, Celta Vigo confirmed that the center-back will miss six months of action.
Baba Rahman (Ghana)
Although fit, PAOK left back, Baba Rahman, said he won’t play for Ghana at the AFCON in Ivory Coast in order to recover fully from his previous injuries. The 29-year-old has had two anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgeries and meniscus operations in his career.
According to him, the injuries have haunted him recently when he was booed by Ghanaians during a game against Central African Republic in Kumasi.
Rahman has been capped 51 times by the Black Stars and featured for PAOK January 3, scoring a goal and assisting another in their 4-0 win over OFI Crete in the Greece Super League.
MIDFIELDERS
Wilfred Ndidi (Nigeria)
After being named in Nigeria’s final 25-man squad, in-form Leicester City midfielder, Ndidi, had his third AFCON hopes dashed last week, no thanks to a muscle injury. The 27-year-old was withdrawn from Nigeria’s squad and has since been replaced by Antwerp’s Alhassan Yusuf. According to the Foxes coach, Enzo Maresca, Ndidi faces up to three months on the sidelines.
Thomas Partey (Ghana)
Arsenal midfielder and Ghana’s vice-captain, Partey, is still unfit to be part of the Black Stars in Ivory Coast having just resumed light training. He was named in their 55-man preliminary squad but was left out eventually. He has missed a number of games for Arsenal since October while Ghana’s coach, Chris Hughton described his absence as one of the biggest in the squad. Arsenal coach, Mikel Arteta also explained that Partey pushed to go to the AFCON but was far from returning to competitive football.
Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon)
Mbeumo has been in unstoppable form for Brentford in the Premier League so far this season and was expected to carry the form to the 2023 AFCON. Before his injury, he had scored seven goals and three assists in the EPL.
Unfortunately, Cameroon will have to look elsewhere for goals at the AFCON as the 24-year-old had to undergo surgery for a knee injury he sustained in Brentford’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton on December 6, which will cause him to be out for three months.
Wilfred Zaha (Ivory Coast)
Zaha is one of the most influential figures for hosts Ivory Coast, but the Galatasaray man will not be part of their parade as they bid to win the AFCON on home soil. The former Manchester United forward was overlooked by coach Jean-Louis Gasset, with reports suggesting that it was due to his absence during the AFCON qualifiers and the first round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The 31-year-old played at the last AFCON in 2021 and has five goals in 31 caps for the Elephants.
FORWARDS
Taiwo Awoniyi (Nigeria)
After debuting at the tournament in 2021, Awoniyi was dreaming of another appearance for Nigeria at the AFCON before he was hit by a recurring groin injury which required surgery. Before his knock, Awoniyi has kept up his fine form in the EPL, with four goals in 10 games.
Ibrahima Kone (Mali)
Ibrahima Kone is a big injury setback for Mali ahead of the tournament. The 23-year-old Almeria forward who has scored 12 goals in 16 appearances for his country is out of the tournament due to an ankle injury he sustained in a friendly game between Mali and Uganda in October and won’t be available until after the AFCON.
Issahaku Fatawu (Ghana)
Unlike other absentees, Ghana forward, Fatawu, is not missing the AFCON due to injury. Caught between club career and national team allegiance, Fatawu opted against playing at the AFCON in order to meet up with his loan deal requirements from Sporting CP to Leicester.
According to reports, Fatawu must meet a threshold of matches for the Foxes in order to seal a permanent move to the King Power Stadium. He is already in fine form in the Championship, creating 19 chances with two goals and seven assists.
