DR Congo will not risk skipper Mulumbu

Posted Tuesday, February 03, 2015 by AFP

Bata (Equatorial Guinea) (AFP) - Democratic Republic of Congo coach Florent Ibenge will not risk injured skipper Youssouf Mulumbu in Wednesday's Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against Ivory Coast in Bata.

The 28-year-old West Bromwich Albion defensive midfielder missed the last two matches of the tournament in Equatorial Guinea after suffering a hamstring injury.

Mulumbu had hoped to be fit for the semi-final, but Ibenge said the captain had not recovered fully and he would not rush him back into action.

“He is probably 70 percent fit now, but I would rather play someone who is fully fit and I also do not want to rush him back, after which he could be out for as long as six months,” said the DR Congo handler.

Another England-based DR Congo footballer, defender Gabriel Zakuani from third-tier Peterborough, suffered an ankle sprain during a dramatic quarter-final victory over Congo Brazzaville.

Officials said he will be sidelined for at least 10 days, ruling him out of the rest of the Cup of Nations, which ends Sunday.