CHAN 2016 semis: DR Congo to face Guinea without Luvumbu
Influential and mercurial DR Congo star player Heritier Luvumbu has been ruled out of today’s semi-final game against Guinea in Kigali.
Advertisement
The artistic player who had been touted as one of the players vying for the prestigious player of the tournament award, picked up a serious knee injury in their 2-1 win over Rwanda where he was a thorn in the flesh of the Amavubi defence.
DR Coach Florent Ibenge confirmed the latest development to supersport.com at the team training where Luvumbu sat out in pain.
“It is very unfortunate Luvumbu will not be able to play in our semi-final game after he picked up a knee injury in our game against Rwanda. It is a big blow to us as he has been instrumental but our medical team will continue to monitor his progress,” Ibenge told supersport.com.
Luvumbu, who is a recipient of two man of the match awards in the ongoing African Nations Championship, has been at the heart of DR Congo transformation, being the creative hub through which tempo and the majority of the teams attacking endeavours are channeled.
DR Congo are chasing their second Chan trophy after winning in 2009 when the first event was held in Cote d’Ivoire.
In the other game, both Mali and Cote d’Ivoire will make an attempt to play in the final for the first time as they clash in the all-West Africa affair.
Mali had to come from behind to secure their qualification against Tunisia while Cote d’Ivoire had to wait till extra time to edge out Cameroun.
