Injury Ends Mandela AFCON Dream, Mohammed Out Of DRC Test
10th June 2019
Harambee Stars head coach Sébastien Migné confirms South Africa-based defender is out of the tournament, ex-Gor skipper in frame to feature in Egypt
- In a statement posted on their website, head coach Sébastien Migné confirmed Mandela, who played for Posta Ranger FC and Tusker FC in the domestic SportPesa Premier League before moving to South Africa, would not be part of his final squad for the AFCON
- The Frenchman added former SPL champions Gor Mahia FC captain, Musa Mohammed would also not be risked on Saturday when Kenya locks horns with the DRC in Madrid, Spain but would be available for the continental football showpiece
- Stars will then jet into Egypt on June 19, five days before their opening match of the tournament against Algeria with neighbours Taifa Stars of Tanzania and Senagal's Lions of Teranga to come in their Group C of the Egypt 2019 AFCON
PARIS, France- South Africa Premier League side Maritzburg United FC defender, Brian Mandela, has been ruled out of Kenya's friendly against the Democratic Republic of Congo and the subsequent Egypt 2019 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after injuring his knee in training, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) announced on Monday.
In a statement posted on their website, head coach Sébastien Migné confirmed Mandela, who played for Posta Ranger FC and Tusker FC in the domestic SportPesa Premier League before moving to South Africa, would not be part of his final squad for the AFCON.
“Brian got injured today (Monday) in training. He is one of our key players and will not be available for AFCON. We will need to find a solution,” said coach Sébastien Migné.
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The Frenchman added former SPL champions Gor Mahia FC captain, Musa Mohammed would also not be risked on Saturday when Kenya locks horns with the DRC in Madrid, Spain but would be available for the continental football showpiece.
Enough back up
“It is not good for us and for him as well. Mohamed also picked up a knock (in Harambee Stars’ friendly match against Madagascar). We cannot take a risk with him against DRC but he could be available for AFCON,” added the coach.
Migne ruled out any late additions emphasising he has enough back up in the preliminary squad of 27 he carried for their three-week training camp in France to fill the Mandela-shaped hole in defence.
“We won against Ghana without key players. It is always problematic for the coach but we will try to find a solution,” the tactician who was hired in May last year outlined.
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Stars will then jet into Egypt on June 19, five days before their opening match of the tournament against Algeria with neighbours Taifa Stars of Tanzania and Senagal's Lions of Teranga to come in their Group C of the Egypt 2019 AFCON.