"We have to find the right balance with African players" - Marco Silva on key absence ahead of AFCON

Fulham head coach, Marco Silva has called for balance with African players who are going to represent their respective nations for AFCON, admitting that they would be a big miss but the team has to be able to adapt and rotate, Nigeriasoccernet.com writes.

The Cottagers will be without the trio of Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze who is on loan from AC Milan as they have joined the Super Eagles camp as preparations intensify for the continental showpiece.

"We are very very pleased to have these players with us. We believed in Calvin. I took Iwobi from Arsenal to Everton, then to Fulham. We have to be careful, if we sign more (African) players. We have to have the right balance.

“With injured players and AFCON, it's a big one for us. If you want to create an ambitious mentality, this game has to be big. In some positions we are short, to be able to rotate. It's been very tough for us.”

With AFCON set to last till mid of January, African players availability to their clubs would depend on how far their nation go in the tourney.

By Oluwadamilola Olaleye