Following the withdrawal of seven key players from their AFCON 2017 squad. The Football Association of Cameroon has cried out that African players are victims of blackmails from European teams, which is why they are turning down the chance to represent their nation.
France-based Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa of Marseille, West Brom’s Allan Nyom, Andre Onana (Ajax Amsterdam), Maxime Poundje (Girondins Bordeaux), Ibrahim Amadou (Lille) and Guy N’dy Assembe are the other names that have turned down the opportunity to play for Hugo Broos.
Nyom, Anguissa, Onana, Amadou and Assembe told Broos that they preferred to stay with their clubs while Poundje wants to play for France.
Fecafoot Head of Media Simon Lyonga lamented that, “This has been going on for long now. The coaches blackmail players who want to go for AFCON with threats of no first choice position.”
“Even the Eto’os had this situation but they knew they could count on their talent. Our younger generation is limited and can easily fall for that.”
“A young man like Zambo Anguissa should be happy to play for his country no matter the situation in camp. Do you think the situation was better when the Mbomas played? I do not think so.”
“We are victims of blackmail and we throw that back to ourselves. We need to fight that. See what is happening to Mikel Obi. Today, he is second choice because his coach told him not to go to the Rio Olympics but South American players can go for Copa America whenever.”
Broos is expected to name his final 23-man list next week as the Indomitable Lions look to win their first Afcon title since 2002.
