[sports\biographies] World football news: The nations of Africa take the spotlight with the landslide victory of the Codévoire

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A sad end for a Ghanaian player who preferred to play for his club rather than his country

After he decided not to join his country's national team in the Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Côte d'Ivoire, Ghanaian player Abdul Fatau was sent off in his club's match, Leicester City, against Coventry City in the "Championship", the first division of English clubs, which will prevent him from playing 3 matches.
Fatau was expelled from his club's match against Coventry City, which ended in a 3-1 loss for his team, after a strong tackle on the opponent's player, according to the Ghana Soccer Net sports website.
Fatau will return to play again for Leicester City on February 10, that is, just one day before the end of the Africa Cup of Nations, in which the player refused to participate with the Ghanaian national team.
The Ghanaian player was subjected to much criticism after he refused to participate with his country's national team, and many mocked him after he was expelled and attacked him with sarcastic comments on social media.

The fastest since 1976.. The Elephants team opens the goals of the African Nations

The Côte d'Ivoire national team began its campaign in the African Cup of Nations with a victory over Guinea Bissau with two goals to none.
Sekou Fofana scored the first goal for Côte d'Ivoire in the 4th minute, which made him the fastest goal scored in the history of the opening matches of the African Cup of Nations after the Ethiopian Solomon Shiferahu, who scored a goal against Uganda in 1976 in the second minute, according to the Goal Sports website.
With this goal, Fofana's tally with the Côte d'Ivoire national team rose to 6 goals in 13 official matches.
In the next match, Côte d'Ivoire will face Nigeria next Thursday, and will play against Equatorial Guinea on January 22.
Côte d'Ivoire, which is aspiring to win its third title, is organizing the tournament for the second time after 1984, when participation was limited to only 8 teams, and 2015.

The players of these two leagues are the "most present" in the African Cup of Nations

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) website revealed on Friday that French and English league players will be most present at the 2023 Côte d'Ivoire Africa Cup of Nations, which starts today.
The African Cup of Nations, hosted by Côte d'Ivoire, begins today, Saturday, with a match between it and the Guinea-Bissau national team.
According to the Confederation of African Football website, a total of 628 players from 24 countries will participate in the finals of the 34th edition of the tournament.
There are 61 players active in the French First Division, including the Moroccan defender of Paris Saint-Germain, Achraf Hakimi, and the captain of Ghana, Andre Ayew, who is active in the ranks of Le Havre.
Egyptian Mohamed Salah leads the list of players active in the English Premier League, which number 31 players, and it could have been more had it not been for the injuries of some players, such as Thomas Partey and Wilfred Ndidi.
There will also be 25 players active in the Saudi League who will participate in the African Cup of Nations, including Sadio Mane, Riyad Mahrez and Khalidou Koulibaly.
As for the Spanish League, there are 22 players who will participate in the African Championship, while there are 17 players active in the German League.
The holder of the title of best player in Africa this year, Victor Osimhen, leads the list of 15 players in the Italian League participating in the African football tournament.
Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Al-Ahly clubs have 30 players who will participate in the tournament, along with South Africa and Egypt.

Source : https://www.skynewsarabia.com/topic/909325-كأس-أمم-إفريقيا