Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has claimed the Italian club will no longer be signing African players until they agree to the condition which says they will not participate at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Laurentiis’s remarks comes on the backdrop of criticism directed at the most prestigious African biennial competition for clashing with most leagues in Europe in terms of its dates.
The clash has resulted in several key African players plying their trade in the European continent returning to represent their nations for the tournament.
Former Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly and midfielder Andre Zambo Anguissa missed several Napoli games between January and February this year when they were on international duty at the 2021 AFCON tournament that was held in Cameroon.
Koulibaly represented Senegal who were the winners of the competition after beating Egypt on penalties while Zambo Anguissa was with the hosts Cameroon.
Speaking during a streamed event, Napoli’s president as quoted by Football Italia said: “I told them lads, don’t talk to me about Africans anymore!”
He added: “I love them, but either they sign something confirming they’ll back out of playing the Africa Cup of Nations, or otherwise between that tournament, the World Cup qualifiers in South America, these players are never available!
“We are the idiots who pay salaries only to send them all over the world playing for others.”
Before Laurentiis’s recent remarks, initially there was a dispute between African players, their respective European clubs together with their country’s football federations.
Multiple reports suggested that a number of European teams refused with African players and one example is of the English side Watford FC who denied to release Nigerian international attacker Emmanuel Dennis.
At the same time, unverified reports also indicated that some of the African players faked injuries and excused themselves to take part at the tournament.
According to the reports (unverified) these decisions made by African players were taken in order to save their jobs and lengthen their stay with their financially strong European teams.
I dnt think they will any African player who will be willing to play with this Napoli
Dako rake
Haihwawo, tibvirwepo zvedu isu, Napoli Napoli kudii, ndezvake izvo.
Innocent Makoni 😂
Innocent Makoni kkkkk chief hamusati makura namanje
Ndezvako iwe
This shows hw racist this guys are ,thats why Balotelli was advising Africans do built there own stadiums and Teams ¿
Useless team President
Bloody racist, Afcon means a lot to us Africans
Nonsensical racist
Hahaha 😂 😂 get away
Useless man
I doubt if his tongue is connected to the brain.
We don’t care,we want to learn standing for ourselves.no one came to Italy and ask for a job but its you you called them after you watch their performance.
It’s a business decision, I would not pay someone money and fail to get full services.
Marc Giggs AFCON is as valuable as European championship, is he respects European championship, why not respect AFCON
Tony Sibanda, AFCON is a 4th class tournament in terms of viewership and sponsorship, if Africa countries are serious about it they should pay for European based players.
Tony Sibanda Because European Championship does not affect their league except when players are injured
Marc Giggs but AFCON is Europe source of African players, this is where the European teams scout and identify the African talents.
Peter Walters it does not affect them because they get a break for it or what?
Tony Sibanda I guess a player who is already playing in Europe doesn’t need to be at AFCON so second scouting. The reality is that afcon, is pathetic
Marc Giggs it’s always about AFCON, never about Copa America that affects the South American football players.
Marc Giggs that’s just a racial sentiment. Napoli has been in the shadows for a long time, not because of Afcon but because of such double stupidity. Clubs with African players participating in Afcon have since succeeded in their respective leagues and yet a mere leader of a minions clubs thinks that way?
That’s a fact, pple don’t understand that, they’re running business not just for fun
Marc Giggs Ok lets see them win the Seria A and the Champions League then 😂
Rodwell Audian Tom pure racism, hez bitter that koulibaly left
Tony Sibanda aligns with European off season. Afcon is in the heat of the season. It costs them. And he’s not the only one complaining.
Peter Walters some people just fail to understand this. African tournaments should be played at the same time as European tournaments. You can’t spend millions of dollars on players who won’t be participating fully to all your league games. AfCON should put it’s house in order, simple
Tony Sibanda they never said it’s valueless 🤷♂️😂😂
Maybe he thinks Napoli is such a big club that every player wants to join it Shame.Coulibaly actually wasted his time playing for a mid table team. By now his career would have soared and his trophy cabinet full
Majid Zelensky say it again infact he is a very useless human being
Kuyahlanya loku kubheme insangu he cant say we pay them to go and player for other teams KKK which teams
Sthembiso Mkhuzen Alex Cosmo madoda
Kkkk ayibo
We said no to this bulshit longback
What has he achieved with Napoli?
Uyu anorwara uyu
Chupeti
No African player,no trophy at your club.
Crazy old racist
He is ryt
They never win shit anyways regardless who plays for them
T-blac Tendai saka 1 African player ndiye akavatadzisa kuhwinha Serie A ne Champions League 😂😂
He’s STUPID!!!
WTF