As nations brace up for the 2022 African Cup of Nations tournament to be held in Cameroon, the Ivorian and Moroccan national teams have recorded early unwanted medical reports with Gervais Yao Kouassi Gervinho and Yousef En-Nesyri being ruled out with long-term injuries.
Trabzonspor’s Gervinho picked up a six month injury at his club while Wn-Nesyri who is seen as a live wire in Morocco’s frontline has also sustained an injury that will keep him out of action for three months.
Both players are instrumental to their teams, with Gervinho considered a veteran in the Elephants team, expected to provide morale from the bench for his teammates. En-Nesyri who was in good form until his injury will be sorely missed by the Atlas Lions, as they hope to make it far in the AFCON.
Morocco have not made it to the semifinal of the African Cup of Nations since playing in the finals in 2004, losing to hosts and winners, Tunisia.
Champions in 2015, Ivory Coast would also miss out on the experience of Gervinho, a member of the nation’s golden generation that won the AFCON in 2015.
The 2022 AFCON will hold from the 9th of January to the 6th of February.
