Which players will miss ISL 2023-24 final?

Both camps have injured or suspended players for this vital ISL finale.

Mohun Bagan are ready to face off against Mumbai City FC in the 2023-24 Indian Super League (ISL) final at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata on Saturday (May 4). It’s expected to be a feisty, aggressive affair between the two best teams in the league – with both gunning for that ISL Trophy to end their season on a high note.

For the Mariners, it’s the chance to complete the domestic treble – having already won the Durand Cup and ISL Shield this season. The Islanders will look to save themselves from a trophyless season, and also have a chance of playing in an Asian competition next season by clinching the trophy.

Ahead of this vital final, both teams are going to be missing a couple of important players. For the Mariners, they will be without their striker Armando Sadiku – who is currently serving a suspension laid into him by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The 32-year-old forward, who scored eight goals in the ISL for Antonio Habas’ side, was sent off in the first leg of Mohun Bagan’s semi-final against Odisha FC.

However, the AIFF’s Disciplinary Committee saw him guilty of trying to cause some intentional harm and laid a subsequent ban on him. That not only keeps Sadiku out for the final but also the first few matches of the 2024-25 season –  if he remains at the club. Apart from him, the Mariners are also going to miss Ashique Kuruniyan – who is still recovering from a long-term knee injury.

Kuruniyan suffered a horrible ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) injury while on duty for India in September 2023 and has not been able to play any matches ever since. For the time being, the winger is not expected to return to action before the beginning of the 2024-25 season for the Mariners.

On the other hand, Mumbai City will also be missing a few first-team regulars. Akash Mishra, their influential left-back, has been ruled out for the rest of the season. He sustained a foot injury early in the first leg of the Islanders’ 3-2 win over FC Goa in the ISL semi-final and is not expected to be able to recover for this game.

Alongside Mishra, Mumbai City’s midfield general Yoell van Nieff is also suspended for the ISL final. This comes after he was shown a yellow card in the ISL semi-final second leg, which the Islanders won by a 2-0 margin.

With that being said, there are no more injury or suspension issues for either of the two teams apart from these cases. Both Antonio Habas and Petr Kratky will aim to put out their strongest XI’s and hope that their team comes out on top to lift the ISL title.

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