The Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) announced its national team is “facing a significant number of players who are refusing to play” in the African Cup of Nations (CAN) to stay with their clubs, according to L’ÉQUIPE. FECAFOOT announced a “total of seven defections from the 35 players” for the CAN (Jan. 14-Feb. 5). In a statement, FECAFOOT said, “The Cameroonian Football Federation reserves the right to take action against these players in accordance with FIFA regulations.” The seven players in question are: André Onana (Dutch side Ajax), Guy Roland Ndy Assembe (Ligue 1 side Nancy), Joël Matip (Liverpool), Allan Nyom (EPL side West Bromwich), Maxime Poundje (Ligue 1 side Bordeaux), André Zambo Anguissa (Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille) and Ibrahim Amadou (Ligue 1 side Lille) (L’ÉQUIPE, 12/20). In Liverpool, James Pearce reported Matip cited “a bad experience with the previous technical staff” for opting to turn down a call up for the tournament in Gabon. FECAFOOT said, “Seven have called the coach by telephone to notify him of their unavailability. … These players want to privilege their personal interest to the detriment of the national team, which some of them have already used for their development” (LIVERPOOL ECHO, 12/20).
