A small point to glean in two games, March 25 against Togo or 29 in Egypt.
This is what it takes for the national team of the Comoros to qualify for its first African Cup of Nations (January 15 to February 28, 2022 in Cameroon).
This dream, coach Amir Abdou however fears to see it go up in smoke because Wednesday evening, the French professional clubs announced that they wanted to retain their internationals outside the European Union.
A decision that affects many binationals playing under the colors of an African country.
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Ligue 1: UNFP asks that African internationals can join their selections
At least seven Comorians, including five in Ligue 2, are affected by this controversial rule, which is based on a new circular issued on February 5 by Fifa.
Concretely, this text authorizes clubs to refuse their employees to participate in international matches if a self-isolation rule of at least five days is imposed by the authorities of the country where the match takes place and where the player plays in the club. .
In France, this exclusion must last seven days for anyone coming from a non-European country.
Such a delay would prevent the clubs from aligning them in the league as soon as they return, especially since no exemption has yet been granted by the Ministry of Sports and the FFF.
With the Parisian, Amir Abdou cried injustice and "double standards".
Who do you blame today?
AMIR ABDOU.
First of all to Fifa.
Because it was she who opened a window with this circular.
In principle, on the dates of the Fifa meetings, the clubs have no rights.
Obviously, there, the clubs rushed into the breach.
But I don't understand the deafening silence of the African Football Confederation either.
She said nothing at all while it is a scandal and a total lack of respect for African football.
Aren't they ashamed?
Why accept that and that the European selections can play?
The Blues can quietly go to Kazakhstan (
Editor's note: qualifying match for the 2022 World Cup scheduled for Sunday March 28
).
But there are so many Covids in Kazakhstan, right?
The country is also on alert.
I do not see why we are targeting African countries like that.
In South America for example, the World Cup qualifiers have been postponed.
Messi, Neymar, Cavani will be able to stay within their club ...
Why not us ?
I do not know.
Perhaps the CAF (
Editor's note: African Football Confederation
) was afraid because we resume in March, that of qualifying for the World Cup 2022. But in the end, we find ourselves breaking the dream of our players to represent their homeland.
And I'm not just talking about mine.
Vahid Halilhodžić also got angry with Morocco (
Editor's note: just like the Senegalese Federation, which calls for the “release” of its players
).
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Have you been able to pick up other professional players playing in a European championship?
Yes of course.
The problem only arises in France.
I picked up guys in Serbia, Romania and England.
We even proposed not to play them until the first game on March 25, but we were refused.
How do the players affected by this ban react?
Psychologically, for them, it's terrible.
They are in pain.
We still believe a little, we will say 20%, that some join us at the last moment.
Regardless, now we're going to fight with the weapons we have.
Other selections are in difficulty, such as Togo.
The players will do their best.
I had to fall back on players I already knew but who play in leagues at the lower level.