Foster to Aubameyang: A look at stars being sorely missed at the 2023 Afcon
With the 34th Afcon edition in motion, SuperSport.com looks at notable stars whose services are being sorely missed at the ongoing Ivory Coast tournament.
The continental football showpiece will run from January 14 to February 13, 2024, in Ivory Coast.
However, this Afcon is being deprived of stars such as Bafana Bafana’s Lyle Foster, Gabadinho Mhango of Malawi and Gabon skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Bafana Bafana have finally returned to the Afcon finals. However, hopes of watching Foster replicating his Burnley FC form on the continental stage have been dealt a blow.
The ex-Orlando Pirates forward Foster is still recovering from mental health issues. Burnley. FC boss Vincent Kompany told his Bafana Bafana counterpart Hugo Broos that Foster needs close monitoring. It is for this reason that the 23-year-old will miss the Ivory Coast Afcon edition.
Another face out of the Bafana Bafana's Afcon party is that of striker Lebo Mothiba. The towering Strasbourg player is injured. You just never know what Foster and Mothiba's partnership could have done for Bafana Bafana at Afcon. South Africa started the campaign with a 2-0 loss to Mali.
Surely, Foster could have converted the many scoring chances, which the likes of Percy Tau fluffed in the first half of the Group E match.
Away from Foster, an ever-smiling figure of former Arsenal striker Aubameyang will be sorely missed from this Afcon platform.
Now doing duty with Marseille in the French Ligue 1, Aubameyang's absence from this Afcon is due to Togo's failure to qualify for the continental competition.
However, even if Togo had made it to Abidjan, it is unlikely that the former Borussia Dortmund forward would have earned selection. This is largely due to the ex-Arsenal
Read on supersport.com
