ADVERTISEMENT
Africanian
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • World
    • US
    • Russia
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • America
No Result
View All Result
Africanian
No Result
View All Result
Home Sports

AfroSports: Aliou Cisse Appalled by Napoli’s President Disgraceful Remarks of African Players

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) called on European counterpart UEFA to open a disciplinary investigation against Napoli’s President De Laurentiis.

in Sports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0 0
0
AfroSports: Aliou Cisse Appalled by Napoli’s President Disgraceful Remarks of African Players
0
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Whatsapp

Senegal coach Aliou Cisse says international football – and the Africa Cup of Nations in particular – should never play second fiddle to club commitments and has ‘challenged’ Napoli not to buy African players.

READ MORE: AfroSports: Sadio Mane Wins African Men’s Player of the Year Award

The 46-year-old’s comments come after Napoli owner and President, Aurelio de Laurentiis said the Italian club will avoid signing any more African players unless they agree not to play in the biennial tournament.

“A football player can play for 12 teams, say, but will only have one national team,” Cisse told BBC Sport Africa.

“Clubs will never be above our flag and our national teams. And every Senegalese who plays in Europe, wherever he will be, if he is competent I will call him to defend the colours of the nation.

More

Afro Sports: Senegal Secures Win to Join Algeria in CHAN Final

Morocco: North African Becomes First Woman From her Region to ascend Over the World’s Highest Peaks

Equatorial Guinea: Individual chess championship is Taking Place in Malabo and its Youngest Contestant is 8 Years Old.

“I have a lot of respect for (De Laurentiis) but I challenge them to try to not recruit African players.”

READ MORE: Rumble In The Jungle: Muhammad Ali Championship Belt Sells For $6.18m

The timing of the Nations Cup – traditionally played in January and February – has led to repeated disputes with European clubs forced to release players in the middle of the season.

Napoli lost defender Kalidou Koulibaly – who captained Senegal to triumph in the 2021 Nations Cup staged this year in Cameroon – and midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa to call-ups for the tournament last season and the pair missed six club games.

Disgraceful Remarks

The Confederation of African Football (CAF), the continent’s governing body, said it was “appalled” by the “irresponsible and unacceptable remarks” made by De Laurentiis, and called on European counterpart UEFA to open a disciplinary investigation against the 73-year-old.

“Are we to assume (De Laurentiis) is going to include similar restrictive conditions to players from South America, Asia and other confederations prohibiting them from playing in their continental competitions?” a CAF statement read.

Koulibaly spent eight years at Napoli before joining Chelsea last month and responded to De Laurentiis’ comments by saying it is important to “respect everybody”.

“If he thinks that the team can play without African players, it’s up to him,” the centre-back said. “But I think not everybody has the same idea as him in the club, because I know their supporters and they don’t think like this.”

“Obviously, clubs are fearful about the Nations Cup, but it is important for our country and for our continent,” added coach Cisse.

“The Napoli president is an important figure. I met him once and just by his handshake, you could tell he is a serious man and honest man.”

READ MORE: Ethiopia: Athletics Boss Solicits Government To Ease Access Into The War-Torn Tigray

De Laurentiis said he would only sign African players in the future if they signed a waiver saying they would not appear at the Nations Cup – with the next finals scheduled for early 2024 in Ivory Coast.

Cisse has been in charge of Senegal since 2015, leading the Teranga Lions to back-to-back qualifications for the World Cup and a maiden continental title.

But the former Paris Saint-Germain player believes African countries are singled out by European clubs when their players are called up for international games.

Meto Adoglo

Meto Adoglo

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Breaking News: Equatorial Guinea First Female Prime Minister Emerges

Breaking News: Equatorial Guinea First Female Prime Minister Emerges

January 31, 2023
Equatorial Guinea: Online Visa System In Effect From February 1

Equatorial Guinea: Online Visa System In Effect From February 1

January 31, 2023
Ivory Coast: Revered Ivorian Drum Seized by France Set to be Returned Home

Ivory Coast: Revered Ivorian Drum Seized by France Set to be Returned Home

January 31, 2023
South Africa: Zimbabwean Embassy Responds to Expiry of Exemption Permits

South Africa: Zimbabwean Embassy Responds to Expiry of Exemption Permits

February 4, 2023
USA: Pentagon detects second Chinese balloon over Latin America

USA: Pentagon detects second Chinese balloon over Latin America

February 4, 2023
China Says it Regrets “Accidental” Balloon Overflight, Blinken Cancels Trip to Beijing

China Says it Regrets “Accidental” Balloon Overflight, Blinken Cancels Trip to Beijing

February 4, 2023
Africanian

Copyright © 2022 Africanian.com.

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Tech
  • Travel
  • World

Copyright © 2022 Africanian.com.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Log In

Sign In

Forgot password?

Don't have an account? Register

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Back to Login

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Accept

Add to Collection

  • Public collection title

  • Private collection title

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.