CIARÁN FAHEY
For African soccer fans and players, there’s no doubt which takes priority in the club vs. country debate.
There’s little to no sympathy for European clubs missing star players in the middle of the season because of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
Victor Osimhen cannot play for Napoli when he’s trying to steer Nigeria to its first title since 2013; Mohamed Salah was injured in his second game for Egypt in a blow for Liverpool; and Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga challenge has been complicated by the absence of four players. Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface is out for months to recover from a thigh injury sustained in Nigeria’s tournament preparations.
Stuttgart is without Serhou Guirassy, who scored 17 goals in 14 Bundesliga games before joining his Guinea teammates. Now he’s trying to guide the Elephants past the quarterfinals.
“You don’t have much better than playing for
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