Bayer Leverkusen chief unhappy with AFCON 2023 timing

Bayer Leverkusen Chief Executive Officer, Fernando Carro has said it is unacceptable to stage the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of the season.

Cote d’Ivoire will stage the 2023 AFCON finals from January 13 to February 11, 2024.

The Bundesliga side could be without five key players during the competition.

The duo of Nathan Tella and Victor Boniface are expected to be included in Nigeria’s squad.

Hosts Cote d’Ivoire all things being equal will name Odilon Koussounou in their squad, while Edmond Tapsoba and Amine Adli are expected to be called up by Burkinaso and Morocco respectively.

Carro is considering taking legal action to prevent the quintet from representing their countries in the competition.

“It is unacceptable that the Africa Cup is being played in the middle of the season,” Carro told the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, via Sport1.

“In order to change that, I will enter into a dispute with FIFA. We are also checking whether there is a legal chance of not having to release the players.

“That is not realistic. And in principle I don’t want to prevent anyone from taking this step.”