Dindane blow for Ivory Coast

Aruna Dindane will be out of action for six months

Ivory Coast striker Aruna Dindane will miss the first phase of the 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations because of injury.

The 27-year-old, who plays for French side Racing Lens, will be out of action for six months because of the left knee problem.

Dindane was carried off the pitch on a stretcher in the second minute of Saturday's 0-0 draw against Monaco after tearing his cruciate ligaments.

"Aruna Dindane will be out for six months, pending further checks," Lens said in a statement.

He is expected to return to action in November.

This means he will miss all the six matches for the Elephants in the first phase of the 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Ivory Coast will face Mozambique, Botswana and Madagascar in Group Seven of the two-legged matches which start next month.

Dindane will not be available when the first phase of the dual qualification process ends in October.

The group winners and eight best runners up will qualify through to a further group stage where the teams will then be split in to five groups of four.

The five group winners will book a place at the finals, unless South Africa, who have already qualified for the World Cup as hosts, win a group at this stage, in which case a runner up will go through.

Despite being World Cup hosts South Africa still have to earn their place at the Nations Cup as the 15 teams for the event will be drafted from the top three teams from the final five groups.

Similarly, Angola, who automatically qualify as hosts for the Nations Cup in 2010, will be fighting to appear in their second consecutive World Cup finals.