Razeen Gutta
Senegal coach Aliou Cissé has challenged Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis to not sign African players, stating that the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is too important for the continent to dismiss.
De Laurentiis said last week that the club would not be signing any African players in the future unless they sign a waiver agreeing not to participate at Afcon.
Kalidou Koulibaly, the captain of the defending champions Senegal, spoke out against him and now the manager Cisse has now also responded to the Italian’s statement.
“A football player can play for 12 teams, say, but will only have one national team. 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,” Cissé told BBC Sport Africa.
“I have a lot of respect for him (De Laurentiis) but I challenge them to try to not recruit African players. Obviously, clubs are fearful about the Nations Cup, but it is important for our country and for our continent.”
The fact that Afcon is played in January and February, the middle of the club season in Europe, has led to many top clubs to reluctantly release players. The Confederation of African Football (Caf) have called out De Laurentiis’s statement, saying that they were “appalled” by his “irresponsible and unacceptable remarks”.
“Caf is appalled by the irresponsible and unacceptable remarks made by Napoli President, Mr Aurelio De Laurentiis on African players and the Africa Cup of Nations,” Caf said in a statement.
“By publicly declaring that players who sign for Napoli must sign a waiver denouncing participation in the Africa Cup of Nations as a condition of employment, De Laurentiis’ comments [are] likely to fall under Article 14 of the Uefa Disciplinary Regulation. Caf therefore urges Uefa to initiate disciplinary investigation against him.”
“Are we to assume that he (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?”
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