Leipzig midfielder Amadou Haidara has concussion after being struck by opponent’s overhead kick

LEIPZIG, Germany (AP) — Leipzig midfielder Amadou Haidara will miss upcoming national-team games for Mali with a concussion after being struck by opponent Victor Boniface’s boot during a win over Bayer Leverkusen, his club said Monday.

Haidara was substituted in the 15th minute of Leipzig’s 3-2 win over defending champion Leverkusen on Saturday. That was shortly after Boniface attempted an overhead kick and struck Haidara on the head as he challenged for the ball. Boniface was given a yellow card over the incident.

Coach Marco Rose indicated after the game that Haidara had seemed confused.

“When the doctor comes to you and says, ‘Coach, he’s having some problems with the date and the score in the game,’ then you have to protect the player and take him out,” Rose said. “When it’s the head, then we don’t debate anything. The player doesn’t understand it in that moment, but it’s zero risk.”

Leipzig said Monday that Haidara had a concussion and would sit out upcoming games for the Mali national team. Mali plays Mozambique on Friday and Eswatini on Sept. 10. Both games are in qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Leipzig didn’t give any further details of a timetable or procedures for Haidara to return to play after that. The club’s next game is against Union Berlin in the Bundesliga on Sept. 14, and then at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League five days later.

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