Newcastle United’s forward, Yoane Wissa, has been excluded from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The 29-year-old player, who was signed from Brentford for £55 million during the summer transfer window, is currently sidelined due to a knee injury.
Yoane Wissa’s Injury Status
Wissa’s omission from the AFCON squad comes as a surprise, especially since he is working diligently on his recovery. AFCON is set to take place in Morocco from December 21 to January 18. Wissa had previously represented DR Congo during the September international break, scoring in a 4-1 victory against South Sudan. However, he sustained a knee injury in a subsequent match against Senegal.
Recovery Progress
Concerns about a serious injury, specifically to his anterior cruciate ligament, were alleviated by Newcastle. Reports indicate that Wissa’s recovery is progressing positively. Newcastle’s head coach, Eddie Howe, highlighted that Wissa participated in a training match recently, with more sessions planned to assess his readiness.
Implications for Newcastle United
The decision by the DR Congo national team to leave Wissa out means he will remain available for Newcastle during a busy upcoming schedule. Without international duties, he can focus on regaining full fitness and potentially contribute to the team’s festive fixtures. Newcastle fans are eagerly anticipating his debut after an extended absence from competitive play.
Squad Overview for DR Congo
Here is a summary of DR Congo’s AFCON squad:
- Goalkeepers:
- Timothy Fayulu (FC Noah)
- Lionel Mpasi (Le Havre)
- Matthieu Epolo (Standard Liege)
- Defenders:
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham United)
- Gedeon Kalulu (Lorient)
- Arthur Masuaku (Sunderland)
- Joris Kayembe (Genk)
- Rocky Bushiri
- Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley)
- Chancel Mbemba (Lille)
- Steve Kapuadi (Legia Warsaw)
- Midfielders:
- Noah Sadiki (Sunderland)
- Edo Kayembe (Watford)
- Samuel Moutoussamy (Atromitos)
- Charles Pickel (Espanyol)
- Ngal’ayel Mukau (Lille)
- Mario Stroeykens (Anderlecht)
- Theo Bondgonda (Spartak Moscow)
- Michael-Ange Balikwisha (Celtic)
- Nathanael Mbuku (Montpellier)
- Brian Cipenga (Castellon)
- Forwards:
- Simon Banza (Al Jazira)
- Ibrahim Mayele (Pyramids)
- Samuel Essende (Augsburg)
- Meschak Elia (Alanyaspor)
- Cedric Bakumbu (Real Betis)
Though Wissa remains an important asset, his absence from the AFCON squad marks a key moment in his recovery journey. Newcastle looks forward to having him back on the field soon.
