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Manchester City's Kolo (left) and Yaya Toure. Dave Thompson/PA Archive/Press Association Images

O brother, where art thou? Toure boys to miss Manchester derby

Kola and Yaya are off to the Africa Cup of Nations ahead of the the FA Cup clash with city rivals, United, it seems.

ROBERTO MANCINI LOOKS set to be deprived of Yaya and Kolo Youre for Sunday’s much-anticipated clash with cross-town rivals United.

City host Alex Ferguson’s off-form side at the Etihad Stadium in a much-anticipated FA Cup third-round tie on Sunday lunchtime.

The Italian had hoped that the pair would be allowed to leave for the African Cup of Nations slightly later than planned, allowing them both to line out against the Premier League champions.

Earlier, Mancini said he expected to know by lunchtime if his request would be accepted. However, Ivory Coast coach Francois Zahoui has said no today.

“Clubs know the rules,” Zahoui told BBC Africa. “I’m expecting them for the FIFA deadline.”

The Ivorian squad are due to meet in Paris on Saturday before flying to Abu Dhabi for training games with Tunisia and Lebanon. Arsenal will now also have to plan without Gervinho.

The tournament, in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, runs between 21 January and 12 February.

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