Ismael Bennacer could still play some part in AC Milan’s game against Juventus on Sunday night despite the fact he is currently in Cameroon, a report claims.
Calciomercato.com reports how Bennacer’s Algeria face a huge game against Franck Kessie’s Ivory Coast which they must win to avoid a sensational elimination in the group stages, having won the last edition of the tournament back in 2019. They drew 0-0 against Sierra Leone and then lost against Equatorial Guinea in the first two games, so they must win tomorrow or they will be leaving Cameroon.
It is an almost unthinkable scenario for a team that went 35 games without defeat prior to the game against Equatorial Guinea, but Milan are smiling. If they were to be knocked out then Bennacer would return to Milan on Friday and – if logistically everything goes right – he could be on the bench for Sunday evening’s game against Juventus.
The protocol regarding Covid means that players returning from elite sporting events do not need 10 days of quarantine as happens for those who normally come from countries classified in the E band by the Italian government.
There is in fact the possibility that both Kessie and Bennacer will get into the knockout round though. If Algeria win and the Ivory Coast do not lose by more than one goal then both will progress if Equatorial Guinea beat Sierra Leone.
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