Late fitness test for injured Niger star Koudize

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (AFP) –

Niger’s team players on January 24, 2013 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Niger midfielder Issiakou Koudize will face a late fitness test ahead of Monday’s must-win Africa Cup of Nations Group B clash against Ghana here, officials said.

Niger midfielder Issiakou Koudize will face a late fitness test ahead of Monday’s must-win Africa Cup of Nations Group B clash against Ghana here, officials said.

The AS Garde Nationale of Niamey defensive midfielder suffered a knee injury in his team’s scoreless game against the Democratic Republic of Congo two days ago.

“Koudize is nursing a knee injury he picked up in the game against the DRC. The doctors are working on him and we will know only next week if he will be fit for the Ghana match,” team spokesman Mohamed Selemine told AFP.

The 22-year-old is featuring in his second Nations Cup after starring at last year’s competition in Gabon/Equatorial Guinea.

He was outstanding Thursday as Niger held out for a 0-0 draw with DRC to record their first Cup of Nations point after four straight losses spanning the 2012 and 2013 tournaments.