Setback for Wrexham as Kabore Faces Long Injury Layoff

The injury occurred during Burkina Faso’s friendly against Benin, which Les Etalons won 3-0. The news regarding Issa Kabore is a substantial setback for Wrexham’s head coach, Phil Parkinson, who has relied on the wing-back for each of the club’s last ten matches. Kabore has been pivotal in Wrexham’s strong start to their first season in the Championship since 1982. Parkinson’s frustration is compounded by the fact that Burkina Faso organized two friendlies after controversially failing to qualify for the World Cup.

Burkina Faso’s aspirations of competing in the World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico were dashed after Eritrea’s withdrawal. This situation rendered points and goals from matches against the bottom-placed teams in each qualifying group void, to maintain fairness. Consequently, Burkina Faso lost six points from their victories over Djibouti, while Nigeria only lost two points from their draws against Zimbabwe. Nigeria ultimately progressed to the playoffs based on superior goal difference, finishing both teams with 15 points.

Parkinson remarked, “It is really unfortunate for Issa. He’s obviously performing well, and it appears he will be sidelined for at least six weeks. Receiving the news of his injury from physio Kevin Mulholland during the break was disheartening. However, such risks are inherent when players travel long distances for international fixtures. I’m sure other teams have also faced similar challenges during this break.”

He further stated, “Issa has been a tremendous asset to our squad, and we will ensure he receives the necessary treatment. He lives close to Manchester City’s training ground, so he will benefit from their facilities in addition to our support. The Africa Cup of Nations is approaching, and I’ve seen him perform in a few matches. He is indeed a crucial player, but his fitness will be a concern.”

While the season has just begun, with 31 matches remaining over the next six months, Wrexham’s management is resolute in their primary objective: securing promotion to the Premier League. CEO Michael Williamson recently discussed the club’s plans for competing at the top level.

Williamson stated, “I believe if we maintain our current position in the table, we have a chance to contend for a playoff spot. With the momentum and mentality this group possesses, along with the support from our fans, I am optimistic. Although we have not historically performed well in playoffs, I feel confident about our chances this season.

“Our goal is to be competitive and demonstrate that we can hold our own against any team in the Championship. So far, we have shown that we can indeed compete effectively. In fact, we could have amassed more points if we had not relinquished leads in some matches, including the very first match against Southampton, where we dropped points late in the game.

“I genuinely believe we could be higher in the standings, but what matters is that we have proven we can compete with any club, and it is essential to prepare ourselves for when the opportunity to reach the Premier League arises. This is our clear objective.

Recently, Ryan Reynolds lauded his club’s resilience following a commendable 1-0 victory over Charlton Athletic. A penalty from Josh Windass extended the Red Dragons’ unbeaten streak to five matches, elevating them to 13th place in the Championship with 21 points from 15 matches, only four points shy of the playoff spots.