African Players Could Get Sanctioned for Missing AFCON

The African Cup of Nations is only a week away but some teams are yet to name their final squads because some of the players especially those playing in Europe have refused to play.

Eight Cameroonians – Joel Matip (Liverpool), Andre Onana (Ajax d’Amsterdam), Guy Roland Ndy Assembe (Nancy), Allan Nyom (West Bromich Abion), Andre –Frank Zambo Anguissa (Olymique Marseille), Ibrahim Amadou (Lille), Maxime Poundje (Bordeaux) and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Schalke)were all named in Cameroon’s provisional squad for the tournament, but have refused to play due to club commitments and “personal reasons” for Eric’s case.

Bournemouth striker Benik Afobe also withdrew from DR Congo’s squad.

Speaking to BBC World Service, football lawyer David Seligman said, [perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“clubs have to release them and players have to go. The only reason they don’t have to go is if they are injured.”[/perfectpullquote]

He added, “FIFA could sanction both the club and the player. The player could be banned from playing domestic games for the duration of the tournament and the club could be fined.”

An example of a previous sanction was back in 2015 when Senegal’s Difra Sakho told the Senegal manager that he was injured thereby missing the tournament. He was however back playing and scoring for West Ham in the Premier league. Sakho was fined by FIFA as a result.

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