Trouble for Ivory Coast as Bailly Picks a Knee Injury

Ivory Coast has been handed a major concern ahead of the African Cup of Nations after defender Eric Bailly hobbled off on Sunday with a knee injury.

The Manchester United defender was taken off during his side’s English Premier League match against Chelsea on Sunday at Old Trafford after colliding with the Blues midfielder, Mateo Kovacic, in the 68th minute. His place was taken by Argentine defender Marcos Rojo.

It was his first appearance for the club since March 6th in Paris and coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed that the former Villarreal man will miss the remaining two matches of the season and is now a concern for Ivory Coast ahead of AFCON.

“He will need a scan tomorrow but I don’t think it is the worst knee injury you can have. He will be out for the rest of the season, I don’t think we will see him again before next season,” the United boss stated.

Solskjaer further heaped praise on the Elephants defender who was a rock at the heart of United defense before the injury.

“But he is a warrior, he played well today, he was calm, he was composed and it was just unfortunate that he had to come off.”

Ivory Coast was pooled in group D alongside South Africa, Morocco, and Namibia.