LONDONIvoryCoastcoachFrancoisZahouihasrejectedManchesterCity’srequesttodelaythearrivalofKoloandYayaToureforhisAfricaCupofNationssquadsotheycanplayinSunday’sFACupthirdroundderbyagainstManchesterUnited.

“Clubs know the rules,” Zahoui told BBC Africa yesterday

“I’m expecting them for the Fifa deadline,” he said.

The city had hoped the Toure brothers would be able to play against United before joining the Ivory Coast but Zahoui wants them to meet up with the rest of the squad in Paris on Saturday.

“The national team in Ivory Coast is led by people who are well educated and I was surprised that people in England think we don’t know the Fifa rules about dates,” Zahoui added.

As well as the Toure brothers, Chelsea’s Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, Gervinho of Arsenal, Cheick Tiote of Newcastle United and Sol Bamba of Leicester City are also in the squad. – Reuters