AFCON hosts Ivory Coast without Haller for opening game

Ivory Coast’s French coach Jean-Louis Gasset speaks during a press conference at the Palais de la Culture in Abidjan on January 12, 2024 on the eve of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) football match between Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau. (Photo by SIA KAMBOU / AFP)

Africa Cup of Nations hosts Ivory Coast will go into the opening game of the tournament on Saturday against Guinea-Bissau without Sebastien Haller as their star striker recovers from injury.

The 29-year-old Borussia Dortmund forward, who came off in his club’s last game in the German Bundesliga on December 19, has been struggling with an ankle problem.

Elephants coach Jean-Louis Gasset confirmed Haller will not play in the Group A curtain-raiser at Abidjan’s Ebimpe Olympic Stadium but suggested there was some hope he would return to face Nigeria on January 18.

“Tomorrow he will not be in the squad, for sure, but we have five days after that before the next game and we will see how he gets on,” Gasset told reporters in Abidjan on Friday.

Haller has endured a difficult season with Dortmund, for whom he has not scored since netting in a German Cup tie against lower-league opposition in August.

However, a fit Haller would likely lead the line for the host nation at the AFCON as Ivory Coast chase a third continental title.

Brighton and Hove Albion winger Simon Adingra is also set to miss out against Guinea-Bissau with a muscle injury and it remains to be seen when he will be able to feature.

“Yesterday they had scans to see how they are and the doctor was delighted,” Gasset insisted when asked about his two injured attackers.

“We will see when they can return but both are on course.”

Equatorial Guinea complete Group A, from which Ivory Coast are expected to progress