Mali coach Eric Chelle has disclosed that Tottenham standout Yves Bissouma has been contending with malaria during his participation in the ongoing 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
Tottenham Hotspur's Yves Bissouma faced challenges meeting expectations during the ongoing 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) due to battling malaria, as revealed by Mali's coach Eric Chelle.
In the quarter-final clash against Ivory Coast, Bissouma, who had been feeling unwell, came off the bench for Mali, impacting his performance on the pitch.
Chelle defended Bissouma, stating, 'You know Yves and Moussa were suffering from malaria. Regarding the blood tests, it’s not so serious, as someone born in West Africa is accustomed to malaria. He could play, but for Moussa, it was different.'
Despite their efforts, Mali was knocked out of AFCON 2023 after a defeat to Côte D'Ivoire. The host nation secured their spot in the semi-finals, capitalizing on a numerical advantage that Mali failed to exploit.
Chelle added, 'It was the first time he contracted malaria, so he started some light training. We’ll take things carefully, but there’s no outbreak or anything.'
Yves Bissouma is set to return to Tottenham Hotspur in London to continue his recovery, while Mali reflects on their AFCON exit.
In other football news, Ange Postecoglou's team faced a 2-2 draw against Everton in the Premier League at Goodison Park. Postecoglou hopes to have the former Brighton Hove Albion midfielder back in action in the coming days.
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