Kouyate given permission to stay behind

Cheik Kouyate has been given permission to delay joining his Senegalese training camp in Morocco and will now will available for tomorrow’s London Stadium home clash against Manchester United. Like Andre Ayew, West Ham made a formal request to delay his travel to the AFCON training until 3rd January.

All clubs are obliged to release their players 14 days before the finals start on 15th January.

Manchester United are not so lucky as they were turned down a similar request for their defender. Jose Mourinho is said to be frustrated by the Ivory Coast’s decision not to delay Eric Bailly’s departure for the Africa Cup of Nations.

‘Bailly goes to the national team. He has to be in the national team on the second of January. We asked them for him to be [there] on the third,’ Jose told reporters. ‘They refused, so he cannot play against West Ham. I wish Ivory Coast to be champions because with these kind of decisions it’s because they are controlling every second, so for sure they are going to win the African Cup.’

Kouyate will now join his Senegalese team mates in Morocco on 4th January and will not return until 5th February.