City’s skipper has been ruled out of Ivory Coast’s match in Malawi on Saturday with a sore heel.
But Toure’s total commitment to Mark Hughes’ Blue Revolution will have to go on the back foot in January as the former Arsenal centre-back launches his African Nations Cup quest in Angola.
The 16-nation tournament kicks off on January 10 with the final scheduled for January 31, a potential four-match absence Toure hopes will climax in a repeat of Ivory Coast’s 1992 triumph.
Growing up poor in Bouake was a powerful incentive for Kolo to come through as a top footballer, but despite moving to England as a teenager he retains a passionate affinity with his homeland.
He reveals in October’s City Mag: “I could be back in Africa now with nothing at all. I sold newspapers by the side of the road and cleaned people’s shoes for less than a pound when I was 12.
“I had to do it in order to eat because my family was really poor. I had to fight and scrap for every penny to help my mother and family. But I love my country.
“Ivorian people are proud but very relaxed. We like a party, we like to enjoy the surf, and the people are really friendly. We love our food and the night life, there is a lot of happiness there.
“But football was always my passion. Each day after I finished school, I used to go and play still wearing my uniform. When I got home my mum would have to bathe me because I’d be really dirty. She didn’t like that too much!”
Ivory Coast qualified last month, and Kolo will be joined by Chelsea duo Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou among others as a dozen Premier League clubs cover for some big absences.
Clubs who stand to lose their African stars are:
Arsenal - Song (Cameroon), Eboue (Ivory Coast). Bolton - Shittu (Nigeria). Burnley - Bikey (Cameroon). Chelsea - Essien (Ghana), Mikel (Nigeria), Drogba, Kalou (both Ivory Coast). Everton - Yobo, Yakubu (both Nigeria). Fulham - Pantsil (Ghana), Etuhu (Nigeria). Hull - Cousin (Gabon), Ghilas (Algeria), Olofinjana (Nigeria).
City - Adebayor (Togo), Toure (Ivory Coast). Portsmouth - Utaka, Kanu (both Nigeria), Mokoena (South Africa), Dindane (Ivory Coast). Sunderland - Mensah (Ghana). Tottenham - Assou-Ekotto, Bassong (Cameroon). Stoke - Sidibe (Mali).
For more cool chat with Kolo, read David Clayton’s feature interview with the City captain in the new City Mag, on sale now, £2.50.
