The 2017 Nations Cup is around the corner, and unfortunately any players who suffer injuries at this late stage risk missing out on the showpiece continental tournament entirely.
This is the case with Cote D’Ivoire star Gervinho, who this week suffered a knee cruciate ligament rupture in training with his Chinese Super League side, Hebei Fortune.
As a result, he will miss out on representing his country in Gabon, as he will be recovering from the long-term injury that could take some months.
Gervinho was flown to France for further medical examinations upon suffering the knee problem, and while his full recovery time may not yet to clear, it is inevitable that the 2017 AFCON will not see the skillful speedster in action for The Elephants.
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 this is a major setback for a team that considers Gervinho amongst its leaders.
The Elephants already lost talisman and former captain Yaya Toure for the tournament in January and February, as the Manchester United midfielder and four-time African Player of the Year decided to announce his retirement from the national team.
With Toure absent many looked to Gervinho to fill the leadership void, but his injury now leaves the team without two of Africa’s best midfielders at a time when the country needs them most.
Côte d’Ivoire have been drawn in 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.
