Liverpool may not lose Matip to African Cup of Nations
Due to a self-imposed sabbatical from the Cameroonian national team, Liverpool may not be without Joel Matip during the African Cup of Nations.
The biggest issue with signing African players who are good enough for their respective country’s, Premier League clubs expect to be without them for about a month every other year due to the African Cup of Nations.
Unlike the European Championships or Copa America, the African Cup of Nations takes place during the domestic season for Europe’s top leagues. This season, Liverpool will likely be without Sadio Mane and figured to be without Joel Matip.
Well, Matip may be around. According to his national team manager Hugo Broos, the Liverpool man hasn’t answered any of his calls. Neither has Joel’s brother Marvin who plays for Bundesliga side FC Ingolstadt 04.
More from Rush The Kop
“There are players who never wanted to come and play these games,” Broos said, via Liverpool Echo, referring to the Matip brothers. “They have their reasons but it also shows that if these people are not there it’s a good thing. It means they do not have the necessary will. I refer in particular to the Matip brothers.”
Broos gets into the specifics of how many times he’s called Matip with no answer, a number that borders on desperation. But is quick to say that Joel and Marvin could call him at anytime and say they want to play, so this doesn’t exactly mean that Liverpool will have Matip during the competition this January/February, but there’s a chance.
“For Joel, I called him 15 times and I even sent him messages but he never responded,” said Broos. “Marvin preferred to stay with his club. The ball is in their court. If they want to come play with Cameroon they should call me and say: ‘I am ready’.”
This year’s African Cup of Nations takes place between January 14 and February 5 in Gabon.