Manchester City duo Yaya and Kolo Toure appear set to miss Sunday’s FA Cup tie against Manchester United after a bid to delay their Africa Cup of Nations call-up was rejected by Ivory Coast coach Francois Zahoui.
City manager Roberto Mancini said yesterday he hoped the brothers’ departure for international duty could be put back, thereby allowing them to feature for the cup holders and Premier League leaders in the stand-out tie of the third round.
However, playing in the Manchester derby at Eastlands this weekend would mean the Toures missed an Ivory Coast meeting in Paris tomorrow, where the squad are assembling before flying out to Abu Dhabi for a training camp.
Zahoui said: “Clubs know the rules. I’m expecting them (the Toures) for the FIFA deadline.”
Under FIFA rules, players can be called up by their countries two weeks before the competition.