François-Régis Mughe has reportedly declined his call-up for the AFCON 2023. The young Cameroon striker would like to gain more playing time with OM. A choice strongly criticized by former French international Jean-Michel Larqué.
While some players take great pride in defending their country's colors at the CAN, others prefer to stay with their clubs, like François-Régis Mughe. The young striker is said to have turned down Rigobert Song's invitation to play in order to gain more playing time with OM, a club he rarely plays for. A decision that does not sit well with former French international Jean-Michel Larqué. He harshly criticized the choice of the young Cameroon striker, who could lose his place in the national team forever.
"This AFCON every two years, it's not normal"
Larqué nonetheless moderates with the periodicity of the competition in particular."I have the feeling that there are a lot of players who play around with that.I find extenuating circumstances for them because this AFCON every two years, it's not normal. But when you're called up to a national team, even in a competition which, in my eyes, loses a bit of its interest because it comes around too often, you can't refuse. It's not possible," he explains.
😡 Larqué : "Le jour où on ne va pas l'appeler... Il sera le premier à aller pleurer dans les jupes de sa mère !"
Capitaine Larqué réagit au refus de François-Régis Mughe de participer à la CAN avec le Cameroun. pic.twitter.com/bczL2suu20
— Rothen s'enflamme (@Rothensenflamme) January 2, 2024
OM is also one of the Ligue 1 clubs most affected by the AFCON. Several of its key players will be with their respective national teams. Christophe Dugarry believes that François-Régis Mughe should seize the opportunity. I think there are special cases," moderated the 1998 world champion. He's a boy who's never been in the national team, he's not going to play at the AFCON. He's already not playing much at OM, he's 19 years old, you have to make choices. Perhaps he'll have time to play again for Cameroon when he's better armed (...) For this boy, the priority is to get playing time at his club and to come to the national team when he's more confirmed, mature, sure of himself and his strengths."
