Ivorian star player Gervinho underwent a successful surgical intervention recently, but due to a confirmed six month recovery time he will miss the 2017 Nations Cup for defending champions Cote D’Ivoire.
The talented attacking player suffered a knee cruciate ligament rupture in training with his Chinese Super League side, Hebei Fortune at the end of October.
Gervinho was immediately flown to France for further medical examinations upon suffering the knee problem, and last week the skillful speedster was operated on in Paris.
The surgery on his knee was a success, as communicated by his national federation.
“The operation was successful but his recovery will be between four to six months which means he is out of the Nations Cup,” an Ivorian Football federation statement said, according to SuperSport.
Gervinho was a key player in their successful title conquest at the 2015 AFCON, and will be a huge loss for the Elephants in Gabon early next year.
Cote D’Ivoire won the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a tense penalty shootout victory over Ghana, and the former Arsenal and Roma winger was one of the top performers in that competition, helping his team to the title which had eluded them since 1992.
The 29-year-old will therefore not be able to contribute to his country’s title defence, and as one of the leaders of the team in the absence of retired former captain Yaya Toure, his injury constitutes a massive loss for the Elephants.
A six month recovery means that he will only return to action around May, if the knee rehabilitation goes smoothly.
Cote d’Ivoire have been drawn in Nations Cup Group D alongside Togo, Morocco and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Elephants begin their title defence with an encounter against Togo on Monday, January 16.
