The African Cup of Nations gets underway on Saturday as hosts Gabon take on Guinea-Bissau in their opening group game.
Three Newcastle players – Mo Diame, Christian Atsu and Chancel Mbemba – will be representing their countries in Gabon over the next month, with Diame being the first when Senegal take on Tunisia on Sunday.
Cheick Tiote and Mbemba’s home nations of Ivory Coast and DR Congo respectively play their tournament openers on Monday, before Atsu of Ghana gets his campaign underway on Tuesday.
Players take great pride and honor in being able to represent their home nation at a major competition, but Christian Atsu has a different perspective. The 25-year-old has openly criticised the tournaments notoriously awkward timing in an interview with TV3 (via GhanaWeb).
“I think this goes to CAF (Confederation of African Football) because they need to realise that when a player is doing well and goes to AFCON in January, when they come back, there is someone playing in their position and, if that person is playing good, it is difficult to win it back.”
CAF needs to do something about the tournament in January. It needs to be moved to the end of the season.
“For me when the season ends, a lot more people can watch the AFCON because there is no football. There will be more scouts, more fans and that would mean bigger exposure for African football.”
Atsu, currently on loan from Chelsea, has been rewarded with more game time by Magpies boss Rafa Benitez recently and he has grasped his opportunity with both hands. The fans have warmed to the former Everton loanee, with most hoping Rafa can secure his services permanently either this window or in the summer.
