Tunisian attacker Saber Khlifa may miss Niger Afcon clash
Khlifa could miss match against Niger
Posted: 2012-01-25 10:29
Tunisian international attacker Saber Khlifa underwent scans in Libreville on Tuesday that confirmed an anterior knee ligament injury that will likely cause him to miss the Carthage Eagles' second 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) match against Niger on Friday.
The player sustained the knock during his side's 2-1 victory over Morocco and team doctors were initially fretting over the possibility of a ligament tear that would rule him out of the rest of the competition. Thankfully for the north Africans though, it turns out that the ligament is inflamed but not torn.
"It is possible that he could be ready for Friday but it will be a bit difficult. He has a much bigger chance of being ready for the one after that," said Faisal Al Khashnaoui to Mosaique FM, referring to Tunisia's final group match against co-hosts Gabon on January 31.
"At first we thought it would be a big injury but it turns that it isn't as dangerous as we imagined. He has a simple anterior knee ligament injury and he'll be back to the team as quickly as possible. We'll do everything we can for him to be ready."
Khlifa played a part in the Carthage Eagles' opener and his absence on Friday will either result in an earlier than projected return for Issam Jemaa from a hamstring pull, the incorporation of Amine Chermiti as a starter, or moving Sami Allagui from the right win into his preferred centre-forward position.
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