Borussia Dortmund star Sebastien Romain Haller has been ruled out of the opening game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON2023) on Saturday, www.aclsports.com reports.
Haller, 29, has been carrying an injury since playing for his side Dortmund against FSV Mainz on December 19 but was included in Les Elephants final squad for this tournament with head coach Jean-Louis having assurances that the forward will be available for the tournament.
Gasset spoke to the media on Friday afternoon at the Main Media Centre (MMC) Abidjan where he answered questions regarding the tournament’s opener against Guinea-Bissau at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium on Saturday night.
“Tomorrow, Haller will not be in the squad but we have five days between this game and the next one (against Nigeria) and we will see how he is,” began Gasset.
“We are within deadlines. Yesterday we did Infra Red medical tests and our Doctors came back very happy. The two players injured (Haller and Brighton and Hove Albion’s Simon Adingra) were able to practice but this is human body.
“Everything is fine and dates for their participation is set,” he added.
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Côte d’Ivoire’s opponents on Saturday, the Wild Dogs of Guinea-Bissau have never won a match at Africa’s flagship football event but they will be hoping to make their fourth consecutive appearance among Africa’s elites.
Gasset says in spite of the absence of Haller, his side are looking to start on a good note but will not underrate their opponents.
“We want to start very well but with due respect to our opponents. They have very good players and dangerous at counter-attacks so we need to be fit technically and dominate that game and score many goals,” added the 70-year old Frenchman.
Côte d’Ivoire against Guinea-Bissau scheduled for 8pm local time on Saturday (9pm in Nigeria) will herald four weeks of the best of African football as twenty-four countries converge on the West African country for the 34th edition of the tournament.
Fisayo Dairo, reporting from Abidjan.
