Cote d’Ivoire captain Gervais Lombe Yao Kouassi, better known as ‘Gervinho’ will not be part of the team squad for the 2017 AFCON finals in Gabon.
This follows a successful surgery in Paris, France on his ruptured cruciate ligaments.
He is expected to be out of action for at least six months.
The cheeky winger cum forward was injured during training with his Chinese club Hebei Fortune in October 2016.
“The operation was successful but his recovery will be between four to six months which means he is out of the Nations Cup,” an Ivorian Football Federation statement said.
Cote d’Ivoire will be defending their title at the tournament in Gabon in January.
The West Africans are set to camp in Dubai and will play against Uganda Cranes shortly before the AFCON finals in January 2017.
