Concern for Hibs as Sol Bamba is again left out by Ivory Coast

Published on Monday 21 June 2010 10:57

HIBS defender Sol Bamba was left on the bench last night as the Ivory Coast went down 3-1 to Brazil.

Missing: Sol Bamba was on the bench for Ivory Coast's World Cup match against Brazil

Bamba's omission once again from the starting line-up will cause concern for Hibs manager John Hughes as the defender has been struggling for fitness with a recurrence of the knee injury which plagued him last season.

The Easter Road player and his team-mates' hopes of making it through to the round of 16 now hang by a thread and they have to rely on North Korea getting a result against Portugal today.

Ivory Coast sit level with Portugal on just one point, having played a game more and Bamba was again left on the bench by manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, despite having featured regularly for The Elephants before Eriksson was appointed.

Didier Drogba scored a consolation goal, which could prove vital if the runners-up position is to come down to goal difference, but it was too little, too late on the night.

Brazil, who were angered at having Kaka sent off late in the game after Abdelkader Keita went down holding his face, sealed the win through a Luis Fabiano double and a later strike from Elano.