Congo DR coach Florent Ibenge will not risk injured captain Youssouf Mulumbu in Wednesday's 2015 CAF Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against Côte d'Ivoire in Bata.
The 28-year-old West Bromwich Albion defensive midfielder missed the last two matches of the tournament in Equatorial Guinea after suffering a hamstring injury. Mulumbu had hoped to be fit for the semi-final, but Ibenge said the skipper had not recovered fully and he would not rush him back into action.
"He is probably 70 per cent fit now, but I would rather play someone who is fully fit and I also do not want to rush him back, after which he could be out for as long as six months," said the Congo DR handler.
The 28-year-old West Bromwich Albion defensive midfielder missed the last two matches of the tournament in Equatorial Guinea after suffering a hamstring injury. Mulumbu had hoped to be fit for the semi-final, but Ibenge said the skipper had not recovered fully and he would not rush him back into action.
"He is probably 70 per cent fit now, but I would rather play someone who is fully fit and I also do not want to rush him back, after which he could be out for as long as six months," said the Congo DR handler.
Another England-based Congo DR footballer, defender Gabriel Zakuani from third-tier Peterborough, suffered an ankle sprain during a dramatic quarter-final victory over Congo Brazzaville. Officials said he will be sidelined for at least ten days, ruling him out of the rest of the Cup of Nations, which ends Sunday.
By: FIFA.com
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