AFCON champions suffer major title defence hit as Man United star pulls out of qualifiers

AFCON 2023 champions lose a key player ahead of their international break qualifier clashes against Libya.

Emerse Fae has lost one of his brightest stars ahead of their AFCON qualifier double header against Sierra Leone after Manchester United’s exciting winger Amad Diallo pulled out of camp citing illness.

The Ivorians are the African champions, and to defend their title next year in Morocco, they have to scale through a group containing Zambia, Sierra Leone and Chad.

They have begun qualifying in rich form, beating the Chipolopolo and Les Sao 2-0 apiece. They are set to face Amidu Karim’s side in a doubleheader this international break and will have to do it without Amad.

Amad joins Man United’s dispensary list

The 22-year-old has finally broken himself into first-team berth this season, four years and two loan deals since signing from Atalanta as a highly-rated youngster.

He has started four games for Manchester United in the Premier League this season, staking a claim to owning the right-wing position permanently. Fae would have hoped to count on his talents for their clashes against Libya.

According to Goal, Amad will fly back to Carrington after he suffered an illness in camp. The youngster will be joining a list of players convalescing at the club’s facilities after pulling out of national team duty for this international break.

Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco), Alejandro Garnacho (Argentina) and Kobbie Mainoo (England) have also returned to the club due to fitness problems.

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