December 25, (THEWILL) – In the face of increasing Euro-centric opposition to the staging of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Patrick Vieira has thrown his support for the competition, noting that it is crucial for the continent and should be regarded similarly to the European Championships.
As things stand, Premier League clubs may be able to hold off on releasing players for the AFCON until January 3, with the tournament starting six days later in Cameroon.
Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Naby Keita of Liverpool, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy of Chelsea, and Arsenal’s Thomas Partey, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Nicolas Pepe are all expected to compete.
Other players like Wilfried Zaha, Jeffrey Schlupp, Cheikhou Kouyate, and Jordan Ayew will also participate in the AFCON.
Vieira feels that everyone should be aware of the tournament’s importance so that they do nothing to prohibit a player from participating.
“I respect and I understand the passion and importance of those players to go and represent their country,” he said. “I will never stop players going to the Africa Cup of Nations.
“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.”
On Boxing Day, Palace face London rivals Tottenham, and the former Arsenal midfielder expects a tough welcome from his former arch-rivals.
“I think [Spurs is] a really difficult place to go.
“The atmosphere, the players’ energy when they play at home is really good.
“We know what to expect, so what is important for us is to play with courage, with confidence and belief and to give ourselves the best chance to get the result.
“We know it’s going to be difficult, but we can make it difficult for them as well. I am expecting more than just a couple of boos.”
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
