Europe has continued to denigrate the Africa Cup of Nations, showing it little to no respect. Last month, Jurgen Klopp generated plenty of furore with his little tournament comments of the AFCON.
Attempts to arm-twist CAF into postponing AFCON has failed.
Every time AFCON comes up, it seems to have generated inferior perceptions from foreign media. It infuriates the players, the fans and the Federation.
Ivory Coast striker Sebastien Haller is the latest player to lash out following the perceived disrespect shown to Africa’s premier football tournament. Haller was furious and has asked that Europe show more respect to AFCON.
Haller angry at disrespect to AFCON
The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will start in Cameroon in a few days, and many African players in Europe are gearing up to storm the competition. The tournament has displeased many club coaches in Europe who see AFCON as an irritant.
Sebastien Haller has lashed out for what he believes is a widespread disrespect for Africa’s premier football tournament. The Ajax star is unhappy with the treatment AFCON receives. Haller, who played for West Ham before joining Ajax, is among the plethora of stars heading to Cameroon for the tournament. He will be joining the Elephants as they strive to win a third AFCON.
Haller did not take kindly to questions about his feelings on the tournament. With the forward about to join up with the rest of the Ivory Coast squad soon, he was asked by Dutch media if he would be choosing his country over Ajax. The question infuriated the striker, and he responded, per De Telegraaf, by asking if it was the EURO’s, would a European player be asked the question?
Ready for AFCON
Haller declared in response to a question he sees as insulting and denigrating that he would be going to AFCON. According to Haller, it is the highest honour for a player to be invited by his national side.
AFCON was set for the summer, but there was a postponement due to Covid-19.
Haller then talked about how African players in Europe come under pressure to choose between their club and country. He described the situation as unfair and condemned how they looked down on AFCON. Haller claims to hate having to choose between his country and his club.
Speaking further, Haller said it was a messy situation, and though he would have loved to return to the Netherlands in between to play for Ajax, it was an untenablea.
Ajax plays FC Utrecht and PSV while he's away at AFCON.
Haller has been in spectacular form so far this season, bagging 22 goals in 24 total appearances, and it is no surprise Barcelona and a host of other clubs have shown interest in the player.
By :
Steven D. Thompson
