Despite managers’ grievances, it could be argued that clubs should plan more effectively for the temporary absences of key personnel.
Chelsea relinquished the services of four players at both the 2008 and 2010 editions of the Cup of Nations, yet managed to complete the corresponding periods of domestic fixtures unbeaten (they won three games and drew two in 2008, and won three games out of three in 2010). Evidently they benefitted from having great strength in depth, but in Didier Drogba and Michael Essien, they were deprived of two of their most potent, irreplaceable weapons.
Be it intentional or not, it is telling that neither Manchester United nor Liverpool have signed and fully integrated an international level player of African origin in the last few years. The last Liverpool player to feature at the Cup of Nations, Momo Sissoko (in 2008), could scarcely be considered a first-team regular at the time (he was also sold to Juventus during the tournament itself).
Meanwhile, the Cup of Nations-bound Old Trafford contingent in recent years has been limited to Manucho (also in 2008), who found himself some distance behind the little-known triumvirate of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tévez in the forward pecking order. Mame Biram Diouf is likely to lead Senegal’s charge in January, but it would be optimistic to state that he is anything more than sixth-choice forward at Old Trafford at the minute.
Touré’s supposed claim that “African players are the victim of discrimination” may appear to be the ramblings of a paranoid, out-of-sorts player, but a look at the number of Cup of Nations-eligible Premier League players over the last few seasons would certainly vindicate his assertion.
The 2008 Cup of Nations, which was held in Ghana, saw the Premier League deprived of 34 players, including four each from Chelsea, Newcastle United and Portsmouth. Two years later, 23 players departed the Premier League for six weeks in Angola. This year the figure is unlikely to reach 16. This marked decline is surely no coincidence.
Given that the Cup of Nations has taken place in January/February since its inception in 1957, it would be unfair to implore the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to reschedule its timing to a slot more conducive to European club football. However, it appears that a mutually beneficial conclusion needs to be struck soon if all parties involved are to remain satisfied.
The Premier League is one of the most global, cultural domestic leagues in the world, and it has been greatly enhanced by the presence of African players. A cursory glance back at some of the league’s iconic moments over the last 20 years would no doubt include several contributions made by African players, such as Nwankwo Kanu’s unforgettable hat-trick at Stamford Bridge in October 1999 or compatriot Jay-Jay Okocha’s stunning solo effort against West Ham United in 2003.
The future likelihood of occurrences like these could be compromised if a solution is not sought. When a man with over 80 caps for his country is describing involvement in an international tournament in his home continent – theoretically one of the proudest moments of a footballer’s career – as “catastrophic”, you realise that something has to give. The question is, which one will it be?
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Written by Zarif Rasul for FootballFanCast.com
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It’s utterly ridiculous that it is every two years, and in the European winter, and even more ridiculous that there’s another one in 2013 too!
Top African players will still be bought by top European teams, so I don’t think they are discriminated against. But the tournament is played too often and should be moved to the European summer like the Euros, Copa Americas, Gold Cups and World Cups are.