Gabon’s Didier Ndong has apologised to the people of Gabon after missing training ahead of the nation’s World Cup qualifier in Mali.
Ndong was attending celebrations of the birth of his daughter, a feat that had him expelled from the camp.
Gabon mercilessly sent the 22-year-old Sunderland midfielder back to London as he missed the goalless stalemate in Bamako and Tuesday’s 1-1 friendly draw against the Comoros Islands Tunisia.
“I let myself get carried away with the euphoria and with my friends,” he told Gabon’s L’Union newspaper on Wednesday.
“But it is not true that I was not contactable. I just want to apologise to the people of Gabon and to my fans who believe in me.
“My sidelining from the squad hurts. I know I have disappointed more than just one person.”
