AFCON 2023: Ivory Coast coach provides update on Dortmund striker Haller’s injury ahead of clash with Nigeria

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been seeded in the same group with Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and AFCON 2023 host, Côte d’Ivoire

The head coach of the Ivory Coast national team, Jean-Louis Gassée, has shared insights on Borussia Dortmund’s Sébastien Haller’s injury situation, as reported by Soccernet.ng.

The Elephants are gearing up for the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, where they will face Guinea-Bissau in the opening match without the former France youth international, who is sidelined due to injury.

In a press conference ahead of the clash at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, commonly known as the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé, Gassée informed Soccernet.ng that Haller will miss the Guinea-Bissau match but might be fit for the encounter against Nigeria.

“Tomorrow [Saturday], Sébastien Haller will not be available for Guinea-Bissau’s match, and with a five-day break, I believe he will return with the squad,” he told Soccernet.ng.

Gassée revealed that Haller is working hard to recover, expressing hope that the striker can play a significant role in the clash against Nigeria.

“He has been training hard with other players facing similar problems, and we are hopeful he will be useful for the next games,” he said.

Watch the video here:

Nigeria is also grappling with injuries, resulting in key players like Victor Boniface, Sadiq Umar, and Wilfred Ndidi making early exits from the squad ahead of the tournament.

The Elephants are set to begin their group phase against Guinea-Bissau, followed by an eagerly awaited clash against the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

This post was last modified on January 12, 2024 3:01 pm

Ayomide Oguntimehin

Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and an Editor at Soccernet.ng, with a proven track record in conducting interviews with Super Eagles stars such as William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ademola Lookman, and many others. He has also made a significant impact in breaking transfer news stories. Grounded in video editing, video journalism, social media management, and content strategy, Ayomide brings a wealth of expertise to his work. With a Bachelor's degree in English Language from Adeyemi College of Education and a Master's Degree in School Library and Media Technology from the University of Ibadan, Ayomide is well-prepared to excel in the field.

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