It’s the time of the year where a number of clubs around the world lose some of their top players to international cups that are held within respective continents and this year Crystal Palace have lost two first team players to the African Cup of Nations and the Asia Cup alongside a player who had been out on loan at a League Two club.
Yannick Bolasie joined his team-mates at DR Congo less than a week ago ahead of their campaign in the African Cup of Nations and has already made an impact on international duty as the winger scored an equaliser in a warm-up game against Cameroon yesterday deep into stoppage time of the second half, clinching a 1-1 draw. DR Congo face Zambia in their first game of the tournament in ten days before games against Cape Verde Islands and Tunisia.
Another Palace player who scored a goal yesterday for his side in preparation for the African Cup of Nations was Kwesi Appiah who was on loan at Cambridge United; the 24-year-old netted the second goal of the afternoon for Ghana in their 3-0 win over Portuguese club side SC Olhanense, other goal scorers in the fixture included Everton’s Christian Atsu and Jordan Ayew who features for French side Lorient.
Appiah was a shock inclusion in Avram Grant’s initial 32-man squad for the African tournament but after an impressive season and scoring his debut goal for Ghana, the former Chelsea manager has selected the Palace man in his 23-man squad which was named last night. The striker has scored eight goals in his 23 appearances for Cambridge United in League Two and the FA Cup this season.
Meanwhile on the other side of the world, Crystal Palace captain Mile Jedinak is preparing for his home nation’s kick-off in the Asia Cup which is being held in Australia. His sides’ first game of the tournament is against Kuwait in Melbourne where the midfielder will be looking to inspire his side to victory after impressive performances at Selhurst Park this season, scoring five goals which makes him the Eagles’ second top goal scorer in 2014/15.
Check back tomorrow to find out how Jedinak fares in Australia’s opening game of the Asia Cup and the latest reaction to the inclusion of Kwesi Appaih in Ghana’s African Cup of Nation squad.
