Crystal Palace Boss Vieira Calls For Afcon Respect Amid Player Release Tussle

By Daily Sports on December 25, 2021

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira has highlighted the importance of the Africa Cup of Nations tournament, backing players, including Ghana’s Jordan Ayew and Senegal attacker Sadio Mane to play at the upcoming championship in Cameroon.

Only 16 days until the start of the January 9 – February 6 gathering, the continental showpiece has become a major topic of discussions over player availability, amid calls from European clubs for a postponement or total cancellation.

Palace are set to lose not only Ayew but Senegal ace Cheikhou Kouyate, Liverpool will have to do without Egypt sensation Mohamed Salah and Guinea midfielder Naby Keita in addition to Mane, while a host of other Premier League clubs will be without other key men.

“I respect and I understand the passion and importance of those players to go and represent their country. I will never stop any players going to the Africa Cup of Nations,” Vieira, who was born in Senegal before relocating to France as a child, said at a press conference on Friday.

“I believe that competition has to be more respected because this competition is as important as the European Championship.

“With Senegal, I don’t think people understand [Sadio] Mane or Cheikhou Kouyate not representing their nation.

“If there was more coverage people will understand how important it is for the African continent.”

Amid the clamour, chiefly led by English clubs, for alteration to the upcoming gathering, the European Clubs Association (ECA) recently threatened not to allow players leave for Afcon, highlighting three major concerns in relation to health and safety concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic and the upsurge of the Omicron variant.

“Against this background, please note that, at its meeting of December 2021, the ECA Executive Board unanimously re-confirmed its position that the three principles referred to above must be strictly respected and, should this not be the case, that players not be released for national team duty,” read a part of ECA’s letter.

“At present, these three principles are at risk of not being respected in connection with the upcoming January releases.

“With regards to applicable protocols, as far as we are aware, Caf has not yet made available a suitable medical and operational protocol for the Afcon tournament, in the absence of which clubs will not be able to release players for the tournament.”

Caf has maintained the tournament will go on as planned, with players expected to honour call-ups to the gathering. (Goal)

•PHOTO: Crystal Palace Boss Vieira

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 25, 2021


 

You may also like...
Plateau pip MFM to maintain NPFL lead; Akwa...

2017 WAFU CUP: Nigeria stop hard-fighting Sierra Leone...

Women’s World Cup: Cameroon Coach Rails at ‘Injustice’...

Anam Imo Inspires Rosengard’s Win over Djurgarden

La Liga Appeal New Barca-Real Madrid Date

Spence beats Brook, calls out Thurman

 

Latest News Eaglets face old foes B’Faso in WAFU U-17 opener Injured Osimhen out of Fiorentina tie, doubtful for W’Cup qualifiers Boniface credits fans after Bundesliga Rookie award Anambra, Kebbi Win as 2nd Round Beach Soccer League Gets Underway In Anambra Amusan, Harrison renew rivalry at adidas Atlanta City Games Saturday Team Effort: Nnadozie credits teammates with best keeper award Golf: Battle for Nigeria’s No.1 intensifies at eTranzact Classic Aruna downs Egyptian foe to reclaim ITTF Africa Cup SESC leadership Crisis : Dagana Optimistic Of Favourable Court Judgment Animoke, ‘Mighty Fancy’ Unveils Plan For Wrestling As Association Chairman In Anambra Lagos SWAN Commiserates With Bishop Wale Oke Over Mother's Death MEET FINIDI’S ASSISTANTS

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (53,852 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (44,848 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (43,006 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (42,659 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (42,440 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (42,329 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (42,226 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (41,698 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (40,704 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (39,714 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (38,076 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (37,648 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media