Four Star Players Ruled Out of 2023 Africa Cup of Nations As Weeks Count Down to Ivory Coast Clash

• The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations is set to kick off in a few weeks
• Host nation Ivory Coast will face 23 other countries for the title
• A number of star players will play no part in the AFCON journey

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations is a few weeks away and coaches are already preparing their teams to pursue continental glory in Ivory Coast.

Senegal will be aiming to regain the title they won for the first time in 2022, while Egypt will hope to claim a record-extending eighth crown this year.

However, some of the African countries that qualified for the biggest football tournament on the continent will be without some of their big names.

Sports Brief takes a look at the four superstars who have been ruled out of 2023 AFCON for their respective nations.

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Football

Four players set to miss AFCON 2023

Taiwo Awoniyi

The Nigerian striker was the first top player to be ruled out of the competition after Nottingham Forest confirmed he had aggravated his groin injury in the Super Eagles' 1-1 draw against Lesotho in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Bryan Mbeumo

The Brentford forward was one of the top players to look out for in the competition, but he is no longer part of the Cameroon squad due to an ankle injury. He is set to be out for the duration of AFCON.

Gift Orban

The Nigerian striker was one of the big names excluded from coach, Jose Peseiro's 50-provisional list for AFCON next year. The Gent striker was automatically ruled out of the competition after failing to make this shortlist.

Lebo Mothiba

The South African striker made Hugo Broos' 50-man preliminary list for the tournament but was ruled out after suffering a fracture to the patella of his left knee during the Ligue 1 clash between RC Strasbourg and FC Lorient, according to a report by iDiskiTimes.

Ranked! Top 6 countries to win the 2023 AFCON, Nigeria misses out

Football

5 'dark horses' for 2023 AFCON title

Sports Brief also previously the five dark horses for the 2023 AFCON tournament, with Senegal being tipped as the favourite to retain the title they won for the first time in 2022.

The Teranga Lions will face stiff competition for the title from teams like Egypt and Morocco but a few outsiders could be poised to stage an upset on the continent's biggest stage.