Sangare stars for Forest as AFCON absence nears | OneFootball

Sangare delivered his finest Nottingham Forest display under Sean Dyche, marrying power and poise just as AFCON calls. NY Times notes that Dyche, back at the City Ground in October, quickly identified the Ivorian as a key asset.

He hit the post with a fifth-minute header. Forest then led when Guglielmo Vicario passed to Archie Gray, Sangare stole in, drew out the keeper and squared for Callum Hudson-Odoi. He was credited with the second after heading out to Hudson-Odoi, whose footwork made space before a cross looped in.

A sweeping move produced Forest’s third, Elliot Anderson finding Hudson-Odoi to cut back for Sangare, who curled in from the edge. It made him the first Forest player to score and supply two or more Premier League assists since Steve Stone in May 1996.

Beyond the numbers, Sangare broke up play, used the ball cleanly and, with Anderson, controlled midfield. Dyche said the midfielder understands the game, works hard and has been hampered by injuries. Signed from PSV for £30million on deadline day in September 2023, after a long pursuit, he has 43 Premier League appearances, 31 starts, amid malaria and hamstring setbacks.

The timing is awkward. Sangare and Willy Boly will join Ivory Coast in Morocco to defend their 2024 AFCON title, with matches running from next Sunday to 18 January. If they reach it, he would miss six league games, the FA Cup tie at Wrexham and, depending on his return, the Europa League trip to Braga on 22 January.

Source: NY Times