Victor Wanyama has been omitted from the Kenya squad for their Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier (AFCON) match against Ghana on Saturday, it has been announced.
Football Kenya Federation announced on their official website and Twitter account on Wednesday morning that the midfielder, 27, misses out for the pivotal clash due to a “niggling knee injury”.
AFCON 2018: Wanyama out as Migne names final squad for Ghana clash https://t.co/IxaxzyDyMp via @Soka_Ke
— Football Kenya Federation (@Football_Kenya) September 5, 2018
This comes after Goal cited a Kenya source as saying Spurs’ medical staff forced the national team to change their plans after pulling the plug on Wanyama playing for his country.
“Spurs are not keen to release the player,” the source said. “He (Wanyama) returned to training only last week and Spurs’ medical staff feels Wanyama is not fit enough to play. They (Spurs medical staff) want Victor Wanyama to recover fully and are still monitoring him.”
OPINION
This is yet another injury blow for Wanyama that is clearly a growing source of consternation for Mauricio Pochettino and his staff, who are keeping such a close eye. It would be in Tottenham’s interests for the midfield colossus to get much-needed minutes under his belt were he fully recovered from the knee problems that have wrecked the last year of his career. But news of another injury blow for the player is a big concern, especially as he was deemed fit enough to be named on the Spurs bench for the first time this season in their defeat at Watford on Sunday. Wanyama is yet to have a minute of action this season after an injury-ravaged 2017-18. That means he will surely be unlikely to start against Liverpool immediately after the international break, unless the Tottenham medical staff can work their magic on a player who was such an integral member of the side that finished second to Chelsea in the 2016-17 season.