Cameroon is looking forward to the start of the Africa Cup. On January 9th, the tournament host will play the opening game against Burkina Faso in Yaoundé.
50 years of waiting ended with the kick-off: in 1972, Cameroon last hosted the continental tournament. The Central Africans were actually planned to host the event in 2019, but the construction of the stadiums and infrastructure was delayed. Then it should be so far in 2021, but Corona got in the way.
Now the time has come. The tournament will last four weeks, there are 24 teams, the game is played in four groups and there are six venues in five cities. The final is set to take place on February 6, again in Yaoundé. And all of Cameroon hopes that “the indomitable lions” will then be back on the lawn.
Appointment in the middle of the season
None of this is particularly popular in Europe. The tournament bursts the leagues there in the middle of the season. The clubs have to release their players from Africa. This is what the rules of the world association FIFA provide. The Africa Cup has been causing a lot of criticism for years.
Some clubs have to do without their top stars for weeks. This is what happens to the FC Liverpool. Team manager In view of the timing, Jürgen Klopp already had the event last year as “Catastrophe” for his “Reds” designated.
Criticism from Klopp
This time too, Klopp stirred up a lot of dust when he noted that for his superstars Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Sadio Mane (Senegal) and Naby Keita (Guinea) another January “small tournament” pending. The coach received a lot of criticism for his statements. “I didn’t mean it was a small tournament. I just said there was another tournament. That was meant ironically. It’s still a big tournament.”he defended himself afterwards. Liverpool lose as a result “his best players”.
The “Reds” are not alone in this. Over 30 players from England’s top league are nominated for the Africa Cup. For example from FC arsenal Nicolas Pepe (Ivory Coast) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) from Manchester city, Edouard Mendy (Senegal) from FC Chelsea or Leicester-Professional Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria).
Demanded respect
It goes without saying that, as every year, the English media do not report particularly positively about the Africa Cup. This year, the criticism is particularly sharp because of the current corona situation in the high-risk area of Cameroon.
That attracts an echo: Senegal coach Aliou Cisse complained that Klopp had the competition “humiliate” would. Also the former Manchester professional Patrice Evra and Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira criticize a lack of respect. “I believe that the competition needs to be respected more – because this competition is just as important as the European Championships”explained the Senegalese Viera.
“Shaped by Racism”
Former England striker Ian Wright goes one step further. “The reporting is completely characterized by racism”he said in an interview with the “BBC“.
Pressure is even put on the players. “Players are asked if they will be called up to their national teams. Imagine if it were an English player representing the Three Lions. Can you imagine the excitement?”asks Wright, whose parents are from Jamaica.
The corona pandemic is also not a reason for rejection. “The Europeans have played their European Championship in ten countries. But Cameroon as the only host should now be a problem”said the former Arsenal pro.
“Why so much criticism all the time?”
“Many of the best players in Europe right now are Africans”says Wright: “If we love them at the club level, why can’t we love them internationally like their counterparts around the world? Why is this tournament getting so much criticism all the time?”
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Status: 12/30/2021, 8:20 pm