Ivory Coast coach Ibrahim Kamara is hopeful Serge Aurier’s Africa Cup of Nations is not over but conceded he would be without his captain for Monday’s clash with Namibia.
Aurier was replaced after 69 minutes of the 1-0 defeat to Morocco last time out, with the Tottenham full-back himself suggesting he may play no further part in the tournament.
“I felt something. It may be a tear,” Aurier said after the match.
However, Kamara struck a more optimistic tone as he previewed the Elephants’ final Group D fixture, in which they must equal or better South Africa’s result against Morocco to be sure of a place in the next round.
“Serge Aurier is injured. For the next match, he will not be there,” said Kamara.
“The doctors are treating him. We hope to have him back for the next matches.”
Namibia boss Ricardo Mannetti, meanwhile, is determined to end the tournament on a high after 1-0 defeats in both their matches so far.
“Our last game against Ivory Coast is going to be tough, but we will fight until the last minute,” he said.
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