Senegal player Cheikhou Kouyate left the team camp at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast to go and attend his father’s burial.

The Nottingham Forest star, who was an unused substitute in Senegal’s 3-0 defeat of the Gambia on Monday, was allowed to attend the burial of his father, who passed away on Monday.

Kouyate got the news of his father’s passage at the Teranga Lions’ camp in Yamoussoukroon on Tuesday and he has been granted permission by the Senegalese Football Federation to reunite with his family.

A statement from Senegal FA confirmed: “The Senegalese Football Federation presents its deepest condolences to Cheikhou Kouyaté who was also authorized to leave the national team gathering today to go to the funeral.”

The burial ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday in Dakar and Kouyate could return in time for Senegal’s crucial Group C encounter against Cameroon on Friday.