As we look forward to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Tournament in Cote D’Ivoire, www.aclsports.com through our Football Reporter Samuel Areo will via this section “AFCON Blues” bring you daily round-up on happenings in different camps of the teams taking part in the 34th edition of the continental showpiece.
This will be one of the toughest AFCON tournaments – Sadio Mane
Senegal captain, Sadio Mane believes that the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire will be the toughest compared to previous editions.
“We know it won’t be easy but we will be there to do our best and try to go through every round. We are expecting a tough competition. This competition will be one of the strongest since I started playing in it because all the big countries are here and they all have their targets, but we will see what will happen,” said the skipper to CAF media.
Asked what it would mean for him personally to lift the title in succession, the 31-year-old star said it would be special but reckons the AFCON trophy remains one of the best trophies he has won in his glamorous career.
“Firstly, winning the AFCON was the best trophy I have ever won in my life and coming to do it again will be special and a big achievement. It’s been a dream to play in this competition since I was a kid and we will do our best. Winning the AFCON will be a big impact for our football because we have won all the other categories which is great for the country” concluded Mane.
Senegal will begin their title defense against The Gambia on Monday, 15 January before the heavyweight clash of the Lions when they face the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon three days later before their final group game against Guinea.
Samassa, Mughe refuse AFCON call-up
Still on AFCON Blues, Stade Lavallois goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa has refused his call-up to the Mali squad ahead of the continental showpiece in Cote d’Ivoire.
The Ligue 2 club’s president Laurent Lairy cited a “moral agreement” that the goalkeeper made when he joined the club, where Samassa allegedly agreed to not compete in the mid-season tournament as the reason the 33-year-old will not be featuring for his country.
Similarly, 19-year-old François Mughe, who was handed a call-up to the Cameroon squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), has also decided to remain at Olympique de Marseille.
Mughe, who is yet to be capped at the international level, has not played so much at Marseille this season. However, he nonetheless earned a place in Rigobert Song’s AFCON squad, and the expectation was that Mughe would join the pre-season training camp in Jeddah but the player has opted to stay back in order to fight for his place in the team.
Meanwhile, Marseille have said that the decision to remain at the club was made by the player, adding that no game-time guarantees have been provided AFCON Blues gathered.
Reports: Ndidi set to miss AFCON
According to strong reports in the Nigerian media, Leicester midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is set to miss the AFCON tournament due to injury.
The defensive midfielder missed his team’s home win over Huddersfield Town in the English Championship on Monday due to injury and it seems the injury will keep him out of the AFCON ultimately.
It has also been reported that Royal Antwerp’s Yusuf Alhassan, who is yet to be capped by Nigeria, has been contacted and will now take the place of Ndidi in the squad.
Meanwhile, Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro can still make changes to the squad in case of further injuries on or before January 10.
This rounds up AFCON Blues for today, see you in the next 24 hours.
