Leipzig's Diomande nominated for Africa Cup - RB Leipzig’s Diomandé to miss key Bundesliga games for Ivory Coast duty
RB Leipzig forward Yan Diomandé will miss several key Bundesliga matches after being selected for Ivory Coast’s Africa Cup of Nations squad. The tournament, running from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, will keep him away for at least a month. His absence begins with Leipzig’s final 2025 league game against Bayer Leverkusen on December 20.
Diomandé’s participation in the Africa Cup of Nations means he will definitely sit out the December 20 clash with Leverkusen. Depending on how far Ivory Coast progresses, he could also miss up to three more matches in January. These include away fixtures against FC St. Pauli on January 10 and SC Freiburg on January 14, as well as a home game against Bayern Munich on January 17.
Leipzig must now plan without Diomandé for at least four games, starting with the Leverkusen match. His return date hinges on Ivory Coast’s performance in the knockout stages. The club will need to adjust its attack during a demanding stretch of fixtures.
