“I will release all my African players for the AFCON “ says Nantes Manager who doesn’t understand why European clubs are refusing to release African players

Nkwain Desmond December 18th, 2021, 7:28 am

The Nantes manager Antoine Kombouare believes European clubs have no valid reason to stop African players from participating in the AFCON next month.

This comes after European clubs Association released a letter threatening not to release African players for AFCON.

“It’s impossible, I have to be explained how they do it. These are FIFA dates. I’m willing to see if in the Premier League they will succeed in retaining Salah and Mané. Then Jürgen Klopp will give me the recipe. I don’t want to make a false joy. For me, all our Africans will go to the CAN. I act as if they will not be there at the resumption, “said Antoine Kombouaré.

The Association of European Clubs, in a letter to FIFA, threatened not to release African players summoned to the African Cup of Nations. The body bringing together European clubs and led by Nasser Al Khelaïfa, president of PSG, had argued in its letter the absence of a relevant CAF health protocol.

The African nations cup kicks off next month in Cameroon with 24 nations participating in the tournament.

The tournament shall see European clubs loose some of their big names for close to a month like Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Sebastian Haller, Ziyech, Mahrez, Aubemeyang and many more.