Hysteria ahead of AFCON - Roma is trying through FIFA to retain their African players

Roma are preparing to push as hard as they can, but as things stand, there’s a real chance that Evan Ndicka and Neil El Aynaoui won’t be available for the upcoming league clash with Como. The Africa Cup of Nations could sideline both players for six or seven Serie A rounds, given that Ivory Coast and Morocco are among the tournament’s strongest contenders. Gasperini, however, is trying to delay their departure by at least a day.

According to Il Corriere dello Sport, the club is in contact with FIFA, hoping to secure a 24–36 hour extension before releasing the two internationals. As of now, the players are due to leave on December 15 — the very day of the postponed fixture between Roma and Como.

FIFA’s guidance was to “engage in bilateral discussions in good faith to find suitable individual solutions,” yet relations between Roma and the two federations are far from smooth. During the last international window, talks with Ivory Coast became tense after Ndicka missed the final warm-up friendlies. Morocco, too, has shown little inclination to cooperate.

Ultimately, it may fall to FIFA to step in and negotiate, following its own statement that it will “mediate between the parties, applying guidelines that account for the specific circumstances of each case.” Ndicka and El Aynaoui are both central to Gasperini’s plans, and losing them for the Como match would pose a major setback.

UEFA - EUROPA LEAGUE

Matchday 6

20.45: (3.50) Dinamo Zagreb (3.45) Betis (2.10)

20.45: (1.80) Ferencvaros (3.70) Rangers (5.00)

20.45: (3.80) Ludogorets (3.50) PAOK (2.10)

20.45: (1.85) Midtjylland (4.00) Genk (4.20)

20.45: (3.50) Nice (3.50) Braga (2.20)

20.45: (3.10) Sturm (3.75) Crvena Zvezda (2.35)

20.45: (1.20) Stuttgart (7.75) Maccabi T.A. (16.0)

20.45: (4.55) Utrecht (3.65) Nott.Forest (1.80)

20.45: (5.00) Young Boys (4.10) Lille (1.65)

23.00: (4.30) Basel (4.20) Aston Villa (1.73)

23.00: (3.40) Brann (3.45) Fenerbahce (2.25)

23.00: (2.35) Celta (3.45) Bologna (3.20)

23.00: (3.30) Celtic (3.45) Roma (2.30)

23.00: (5.20) FCSB (4.35) Feyenoord (1.60)

23.00: (1.50) Freiburg (4.80) Salzburg (6.50)

23.00: (1.25) Olympique Lyon (6.75) Go Ahead (13.0)

23.00: (1.93) Panathinaikos (3.45) Plzen (4.10)

23.00: (1.20) Porto (7.75) Malmo (16.0)

***odds are subject to change***