Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe is highly likely to miss the start of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco due to a lingering injury.
Clarets manager Scott Parker confirmed Tuanzebe is a doubt for the weekend’s match against Fulham, stating: “He’s okay, [but] I’m not sure he’ll be ready for the weekend.”
This fitness setback comes at the worst possible time for the 28-year-old, who is due to report for the DR Congo national team immediately after the game for the continental tournament.
Parker added that the team will “work out where Axel exactly is when he reports.”
The injury not only hurts struggling Burnley, who will lose Tuanzebe’s teammate Lyle Foster (South Africa) after the Fulham match, but also jeopardizes DR Congo’s preparation.
Tuanzebe was named in Sébastien Desabre’s 26-man AFCON squad and his absence would be a blow as the Leopards prepare to face Benin, Senegal, and Botswana in Group D, with their opening match scheduled for December 23.
