National Teams
AFCON 2023: Jose Mourinho faults timing after losing key players
By Monsurah Olatunji
AS Roma manager, Jose Mourinho is the latest to fault the scheduling of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after having to release some of his key players for international duty.
The Gialorossi are currently not in a great form and cannot bear to lose another one of their best to a tournament which keep disrupting the European football season.
Although, the AFCON falls within the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) calendar and clubs are mandated to release players 14 days before the start of the competition.
The “Special One” as he is majorly called, provided insights into the team’s current condition and the effect of letting Ndicka and Aouar honor the continental showpiece.
“Smalling’s injury and recovery times ruined my season. And then there is also Renato Sanches who was never in form and this Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which made the situation worse by preventing Ndicka and Aouar from continuing to grow with us,” quoted by Roma press.
The 34th edition of the tournament will be hosted in Côte d’Ivoire from Saturday, January 13 to Sunday, February 11, 2024.
Roma have already lost Chris Smalling, Renato Sanches, Leandro Paredes, Tammy Abraham, and Marash Kumbulla to injury.
Despite the injury plague, Mourinho has to allow Houssem-Eddine Aouar honors Algeria call up while Evan Ndicka would be hoping to win the prestigious title on home soil as he obeys Ivory Coast’s clarion call.
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