Côte d'Ivoire goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo will finally not take part in the 2021 AFCON. The goalkeeper has been suspended for the use of a banned substance.
It seemed like a bad joke in the context of the rumors surrounding the 2021 AFCON. However, the information was quickly verified: Sylvain Gbohouo will not take part in the competition with Côte d'Ivoire. The goalkeeper is not yet present at the training camp of the Elephants and will miss the competition. The reason? The Ivorian goalkeeper is accused of doping. He would have used Trimetazidine, a substance considered as doping since 2014. The A sample of urine belonging to him would have come back positive after a doping test carried out last November during the international break.
While many fans of the Ivorian national team initially thought it was a hoax, his Ethiopian club Wolkite City FC and the local football federation quickly confirmed the goalkeeper's suspension. "From the day this decision was taken, Sylvain Gbohouo is temporarily banned from playing anywhere in the world. This temporary ban includes a national or international competition (...) Unless the suspension is lifted earlier on the basis of the documents included, the temporary ban will be determined by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.'' The statement from the Ethiopian FA said.
A temporary suspension for Sylvain Gbohouo, the time for a counter-analysis of the B sample of the Ivorian. If the latter also proves positive, the former TP Mazembe goalkeeper would be subject to a heavier sanction. In the meantime, the Ivorian national team will be without its number one goalkeeper as the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations which kicks off on 9 January, pending the outcome of this new case. Given the delays, he is therefore out for the tournament. This is another problem for coach Patrice Beaumelle, who already has to deal with the absence of players still retained by their clubs, those affected by Covid and now the suspension of Gbohouo for doping. The suspension should propel Badra Ali Sangaré as the starting goalkeeper during the competition.
