Kamaldeen ruled out of 2023 AFCON

Ghanaian winger Kamaldeen Sulemana will not be participating in the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast due to a hamstring injury. The 21-year-old Southampton attacker, who was included in the Black Stars’ 55-man provisional squad, has been sidelined since late November when he sustained the injury in a match against Bristol City.

Southampton manager Russell Martin confirmed Kamaldeen’s unavailability for the tournament during a press conference leading up to their game against Queens Park Rangers. Martin stated that the player won’t be fit in time for AFCON and provided a tentative timeline for his return, suggesting that Kamaldeen is expected to regain fitness towards the end of January or the beginning of February.

Despite featuring 13 times for Southampton this season and contributing three assists in the Championship, Kamaldeen is yet to score his first goal in the league.

Kamaldeen Sulemana joins Tariq Lamptey, who was ruled out by Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi due to injury, as the second player to miss the upcoming AFCON.

The final 27-man squad for the tournament will be unveiled by head coach Chris Hughton on January 3, 2024. Ghana, placed in Group B, is set to face Cape Verde, Egypt, and Mozambique in the competition hosted in Ivory Coast. The Black Stars will kick off their AFCON campaign against Cape Verde on January 14, 2024, followed by matches against Egypt and Mozambique on January 18 and January 22, 2024, respectively.

-The Post Ghana