Best and worst case scenarios for Sheffield Wednesday as they wait on important AFCON decision
Sheffield Wednesday are waiting to find out exactly when they might have to release Sean Fusire and Yan Valery for the AFCON.
Sean Fusire and Yan Valery could miss a minimum of four Sheffield Wednesday fixtures if they are named in the Zimbabwe and Tunisia squads respectively for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
It was confirmed on Wednesday that FIFA had agreed to delay the deadline for clubs to release AFCON-bound players by an additional week, meaning clubs will not be forced to grant their exits until December 15. The original deadline was December 8, meaning Fusire and Valery were originally in danger of missing next Tuesday night’s trip to Watford.
As things currently stand, Fusire and Valery are waiting to find out if they will be called-up to represent their nations at the tournament. Fusire has been included in Zimbabwe’s provisional squad, suggesting he is likely to make the final cut, while Tunisia are yet to announce their final selection.
Following Wednesday’s development, the Owls, in normal circumstances, would be able to breath that little bit easier ahead of next weekend’s scheduke, but they are penciled in to face Derby County at Hillsborough on December 15, meaning, as reported on Wednesday, it remains to be seen if Fusire and Valery will be available for selection.
Speaking about the situation on Thursday, Owls boss Henrik Pedersen said: “They should travel on the 15th and on this weekend normally we would play on the 12th, 13th or 14th but for us, we pay on the Monday. So we have asked them if they can fly on the Tuesday to allow them to play on the Monday.
“But we don’t have any official answer yet, if they are allowed to do it or if they are not allowed to do it. I really hope. They (the federations) have to decide if they can come one day later. I really hope this is possible.”
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In the event of Wednesday being without Fusire and Valery against Derby, the duo, should they make their nations’ final squads for the AFCON, will be missing for a minimum of four matches (Derby (H), Ipswich Town (A), Hull City (H) and Blackburn Rovers (H).
The AFCON begins on December 21 and the group stage of the competition will conclude on December 31. Zimbabwe’s final group game is on December 29 and Tunisia’s is the following day.
AFCON progress will dictate how long duo are missing
With respect, Zimbabwe, who are in Group B alongside Egypt, South Africa and Angola, are not expected to progress far in the competition, meaning it would be an impressive achievement if they were to reach the knockout stages. Tunisia, though, will be one of the more fancied teams at the tournament, meaning there is a realistic chance Fusire could be back in England before his Owls teammate.
Should, for example, Zimbabwe exit the competition at the first hurdle, concluding their AFCON campaign on December 29, Fusire could make a swift return to Sheffield. However, it feels somewhat unrealistic to suggest he could be available for the New Year’s Day clash with Preston North End at Deepdale, meaning the trip to Loftus Road to face QPR on January 4 could be a more realistic target date. The same, too, goes for Valery should Tunisia crash out of the tournament at the first hurdle.
Beyond the group stage it is, of course, impossible to put a ring around a date on the calendar that either or both nations will exit the competition, meaning Wednesday will just have to manage the situation the best they can in the event of that scenario developing.
In the event of both Zimbabwe and Tunisia going all the way to the AFCON final, Fusire and Valery could, should they not be available for the clash with Derby, miss seven Championship matches and Wednesday’s FA Cup third round fixture.
The AFCON final is scheduled to take place on January 18 and the Owls are scheduled to face Birmingham City at Hillsborough two days later, meaning they may also be unavailable for that one as well, meaning the number of games they miss could reach as high as nine.
But until the Owls get confirmation of whether the duo will be available for the clash with Derby in just over a week’s time, it is still impossible to confirm the minimum number of games they will definitely be absent for.