Arsenal and West Ham fans of a certain age got a shock blast from the past when tuning into AFCON overnight.
It’s probably fair to say West Ham have been impacted far more severely than Arsenal by AFCON and the Asian Cup.
The Hammers have lost star boy Mohammed Kudus and defender Nayef Aguerd – likely until next month. The Gunners meanwhile only have bit-part midfielder Mohamed Elneny away with Egypt.
Arsenal’s Thomas Partey was named alongside West Ham’s Kudus in Ghana’s squad, but has since withdrawn through injury.
Mikel Arteta is also without Takehiro Tomiyasu as he is away with Japan at the AFC Asian Cup.
Arsenal and West Ham fans get a shock tuning into AFCON
Hammers and Gunners supporters may well have been watching some of the matches from the Ivory Coast, which are being broadcast on Sky Sports.
And any Arsenal and West Ham fans got a shock blast from the past tuning into AFCON overnight.
West Ham and Arsenal have both been linked with Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy in the January transfer window.
So some may have had Guinea’s clash with The Gambia on last night to watch the 18-goal Stuttgart striker in action. Unfortunately Guirassy is carrying an injury at the moment so was not risked from the bench.
He played for both
But West Ham and Arsenal supporters of a certain vintage may have done a double take when looking in that direction.
Because their former player Kaba Diawara is Guinea’s manager nowadays.
Ready to feel old Gunners and Hammers?
Arsenal’s legendary manager Arsene Wenger brought then France Under 21 star Diawara to north London way back in 1999 as a 24-year-old.
Random ex player spotted as boss
He would make 12 appearances for them before being sold to Marseille. Diawara then moved to PSG before re-emerging in London on loan at West Ham under Harry Redknapp.
Diawara made just 11 appearances for the Hammers before returning to France.
Well now he is 48 years old!
How’s that for a bit of random 90s/noughties nostalgia for West Ham and Arsenal fans? A nice change of pace from the all the transfer tittle tattle.
Diawara could be set to make more of a name for himself as a manager than he did as a player it seems.
Because Guinea’s 1-0 win over The Gambia puts them well on course for the AFCON last 16, by which time they will have one of the most in-form strikers in world football back in action.
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