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12 African Stars Who Are Missing The 2017 AFCON Through Injury

12 African Stars Who Are Missing The 2017 AFCON Through Injury

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The 2017 AFCON is the pinnacle of national team soccer on the African continent, and with the Africa Cup of Nations competition taking place every two years; it is a tournament that the best players in Africa want to win for their countries.

The nature of the sport and the rigorous club schedules that the top players are expected to manage means that injuries have become a frequent and unfortunate consequence of the professional game.

This often leads to certain star players succumbing to injuries in the weeks and months before major tournaments, ruling them out of taking part.

The 2017 AFCON is taking place this January, and a number of high profile African soccer players are unfortunately missing in action, not due to pressure from their clubs or their own volition not to take part, but rather due to physical problems that they have not been able to overcome in time for the tournament in Gabon.

Here are 12 of the African football stars who are missing the 2017 AFCON due to injury.

Sources: DailyMail, Sport24, BBCSport, TVCNews, SuperSport, Vanguard.

Diafra Sakho
Diafra Sakho was ruled out of the AFCON – Foreverwestham.com

Diafra Sakho – Senegal

West Ham striker Diafra Sakho is not able to represent the Teranga Lions at the Nations Cup due to a persistent back injury that continues to trouble the 26-year-old. The player revealed an eight-week recovery time in December, ruling him out of the tournament that kicked off on January 14.

Adam Kwarasey
Ghana goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey suffered a back injury (Photo TV2.no)

Adam Kwarasey – Ghana

Ghana goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey recently suffered a back injury which has ruled him out of the 2017 AFCON. The player was included in the Black Stars provisional squad, but was dropped due to his injury.

Cote D'Ivoire Stars - 2017 Nations Cup
Cote D’Ivoire star player Gervinho is injured. Photo: france24.com

Gervinho – Cote D’Ivoire

One of the highest profile players who are missing in action at the AFCON this year is Cote D’Ivoire attacking talent, Gervinho. A ruptured cruciate ligament knee injury suffered in training at Chinese Super League club Hebei China Fortune required surgery in November, and a six-month recovery means that the former Arsenal player is unavailable.

Ryad Boudebouz plays for Algeria and Montpellier. Photo: Ligue 1 Betting
Ryad Boudebouz was hurt playing for Montpellier. Photo: Ligue 1 Betting

Ryad Boudebouz – Algeria

Algeria are in Group B alongside Tunisia, Zimbabwe and Senegal, and they are missing the skills and vision of play-maker Boudebouz at the AFCON, as the 26-year-old midfielder recently underwent a knee surgery to address a problem suffered while representing French club Montpellier.

Younes Belhanda in action. Photo: 101 Great Goals
Younes Belhanda in action before his injury. Photo: 101 Great Goals

Younes Belhanda – Morocco

Moroccan midfield maestro Belhanda is not taking part in the 2017 AFCON due to a toe injury sustained while representing French club Nice at the end of December. The 26-year-old broke his toe in a Ligue 1 match versus Bordeaux, requiring 4-6 weeks in order to recover, ruling him out of the Nations Cup for the Atlas Lions.

Abdoulay Diaby featuring for Club Brugge. Photo: Goal
Abdoulay Diaby featuring for Club Brugge. Photo: Goal

Abdoulay Diaby – Mali

The 25-year-old Mali striker is another of the stars missing from the AFCON in Gabon, as the Club Brugge player suffered an injury that will only see him return to fitness by the end of January.

English Premier League - Yannick Bolasie signs for Everton
Yannick Bolasie is out for the rest of the season – skysports.com

Yannick Bolasie – Congo DR

DR Congo was dealt a crippling blow in early December when star Yannick Bolasie ruptured his knee ligaments in an EPL match against Manchester United. The Everton player will likely be out until the end of the current Premier League season.

Cicero representing Guinea Bissau before his injury. Photo: Hivisasa
Cicero representing Guinea Bissau before his injury. Photo: Hivisasa

Cicero – Guinea Bissau

Competing in their maiden Nations Cup tournament, the Guinea Bissau national team are facing the odds stacked against them without star striker Cicero in the squad, after the 30-year-old was ruled out of the competition due to a stress fracture.

Sofiane Boufal of Lille
Sofiane Boufal is unable to play for Morocco at the AFCON – alchetron.com

Sofiane Boufal – Morocco

In a late blow for the Atlas Lions of Morocco, attacking midfielder Sofiane Boufal was ruled out of participating in the 2017 AFCON in Gabon due to a knee injury. The Southampton starlet had been in a training camp with his Moroccan team-mates in the United Arab Emirates, when the 23-year-old was forced to return home injured.

Egypt defender Rami Rabia
Egypt defender Rami Rabia is not available for selection. Photo: Kingfut

Rami Rabia – Egypt

Egypt defender Rami Rabia is another player who is unfortunately unavailable for the Pharaohs during the competition, after the 23-year-old injured his ankle during training for Al Ahly on Christmas day.

Nordin Amrabat plays for Morocco. Photo: Malaga
Nordin Amrabat plays for Morocco, but he is ruled out of the 2017 AFCON. Photo: Malaga

Nordin Amrabat – Morocco

The Moroccans have been one of the hardest hit nations in terms of injuries, and another of the absentees is Morocco international Nordin Amrabat, who was ruled out after failing to recover from an ankle injury. The Watford winger was replaced by Omar El Kaddouri.

Algeria's Saphir Taider is out of the Nations Cup. Photo: Kickoff
Algeria’s Saphir Taider is out of the Nations Cup. Photo: Kickoff

Saphir Taider – Algeria

Algeria will be without the experienced Saphir Taider at the Nations Cup in Gabon, after the player picked up a knee injury in training. The Bologna central midfielder returned to Italy for treatment, and will be disappointed at the timing of his injury, only days before the tournament began.