Cheikhou Kouyaté has been given permission to leave Senegal’s African Cup of Nations squad in Ivory Coast to attend his father’s funeral.
The father of the 34-year-old Nottingham Forest midfielder died on Tuesday in Dakar and will be buried on Wednesday. Kouyaté previously played football in our country for Brussels, Anderlecht and KV Kortrijk.
Senegal is the defending champion at the African Cup and won its opening match 3-0 against Tom Saintfiet’s Gambia on Monday. Kouyaté did not take action. Senegal will play its next match against Cameroon on Friday.
Hervé Koffi beats Koita
On Tuesday afternoon, Burkina Faso won its first group match at the African Cup against Mauritania 1-0.
The Burkinese, with Charleroi goalkeeper Hervé Koffi in goal, took the three points in the end thanks to a penalty goal from Bertrand Traoré in the absolute final (90’+ 6”). For Mauritania, Aboubakary Koita (Sint-Truiden) was between the lines for the entire match. After the victory, Burkina Faso is alone first in group D, followed by Algeria and Angola, who drew 1-1 on Monday.
In group E, Tunisia suffered a surprising defeat against Namibia. The match seemed to be heading for a scoreless draw, but in the 88th minute Deon Hotto gave the Namibians the victory. Thanks to the victory, Namibia is currently alone at the top of the group.