South African striker Lyle Foster’s dream of playing for Bafana Bafana at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has been dashed, with Burnley manager Vincent Kompany confirming that the he is not yet in a position to participate.
Kompany, speaking to the Burnley Express, expressed his understanding of the tournament’s significance and Foster’s desire to represent his country. However, he emphasised the importance of prioritising the player’s well-being and following the advice of medical experts.
“Unfortunately, at the moment he’s not in a position where he can go to the national team, he just can’t,” Kompany said. “It’s not something he can do at the moment, going away for a long time and being in a very different environment. His love for his country has no limits and his desire to do well has no limits, but that would be going against the advice of every expert who has been assisting him in recent months.”
Lyle Foster has been open about his mental health struggles in the past, and Kompany acknowledged the ongoing nature of his recovery. He emphasised the importance of taking a step-by-step approach and ensuring that Foster’s well-being remains the top priority.
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“The conversations are ongoing,” Kompany stated. “I’m a coach from African origin so the AFCON is very important and I feel very proud of any player representing us there because that tournament deserves the same importance as the Euros.”
“But for his condition specifically, the human being, which is the person we’ve treated in the past month, he’s not at a stage yet where he can do any of that. Hopefully in the future he will be able to do much more for everybody on the big stage, but it’s step by step.”
Foster’s absence will be a blow to Bafana Bafana, who are hoping for a strong showing at the AFCON.