Paris St Germain defender Serge Aurier lost consciousness after a clash of heads in Ivory Coast’s humiliating African Cup of Nations 4-1 defeat in Cameroon, but is recovering, the country’s federation said Thursday.
The Ivory Coast federation said it was “a big scare but no harm for Sergie Aurier.” Paris St Germain said however that the 21-year-old would undergo more medical examinations after he was stretchered off in Wednesday night’s game in Yaounde.
“The victim of a violent clash of heads when he was disputing the ball with Cameroon attacker Kweuke Leonard, the Elephants defender lost consciousness in the 55th minute, creating shock on the pitch and among the public,” said a federation statement.
“Treatment that was given in the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde helped him to recover enough to go back to the Ivorian team bench.”
The federation said Aurier suffered “shock from the force of the blow to his head but did not have any convulsions.”
Ivory Coast coach Herve Renard said that Aurier “briefly” lost consciousness but that his injuries were not “serious”.
Paris St Germain said Aurier had gone with the Ivory Coast team back to Abidjan for a scan before returning to France where he will undergo “extra exams.”
“Paris St Germain are in permanent contact with the player and the Ivorian team medical staff,” said a club statement.
Clinton N’Jie and Vincent Aboubakar scored twice each for the four-time African Cup winners the Indomitable Lions in the crucial Group D win that gave Cameroon a three-point lead after two qualifying games.
Cameroon also had a goal disallowed in a performance that helped overcome the bitter disappointment of crashing out of the World Cup in Brazil this year when they lost all three group games and became embroiled in a row over bonuses.