11th September, 2014
Paris St Germain defender Serge Aurier lost consciousness after a clash of heads in Ivory Coast’s humiliating African Cup of Nations 4-1 defeat in Cameroun, but is recovering, the country’s federation said Thursday.
The 21-year-old was stretchered off just after half-time in Wednesday night’s game in Yaounde and appeared in serious condition. The Ivory Coast federation said it was “a big scare but no harm for Sergie Aurier”.
“The victim of a violent clash of heads when he was disputing the ball with Cameroun attacker Kweuke Leonard, the Elephants defender lost consciousness in the 55th minute, creating shock on the pitch and among the public,” said a federation statement.
“Treatment that was given in the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde helped him to recover enough to go back to the Ivorian team bench.”
The federation said Aurier suffered “shock from the force of the blow to his head but did not have any convulsions”.
Ivory Coast coach Herve Renard said that Aurier “briefly” lost consciousness but that his injuries were not “serious”.
Clinton N’Jie and Vincent Aboubakar scored twice each for the four-time African Cup winners the Indomitable Lions in the crucial Group D win that gave Cameroun a three-point lead after two qualifiying games.
Cameroun also had a goal disallowed in a performance that helped overcome the bitter disappointment of crashing out of the World Cup in Brazil this year when they lost all three group games and became embroiled in a row over bonuses.