AFCON 2023 - Adebayor: "André Onana showed no respect for Cameroon"
Emmanuel Adebayor gives his view on the opening games of AFCON 2023 and discusses the Onana controversy in Cameroon.
Sport News Africa · Author profile ·
Listen to this story
Audio version in preparation · read aloud by your browser meanwhile
How do you rate the start of the tournament?
Emmanuel Adebayor: Very interesting, with a few surprises. We've seen some good games, and teams like Cape Verde and Mozambique have shown there are no more minnows. That bodes well for the rest of the tournament.
So far, apart from the host nation, only Senegal have lived up to their billing among the favourites. What did you make of their game against Gambia?
Emmanuel Adebayor: They are the defending champions. Expectations were high and they delivered once again. We saw a real team, players who play for each other. There are still games to come in this first round of fixtures, but for now I think they are the side who have made the biggest impression.
Can they hold on to their title?
Emmanuel Adebayor: Winning one game and going on to win the AFCON again are two different things. They did the job by winning their first game and staying focused. After that, every game is different. For now they are the favourites and they can win it. I hope they do, because I have a lot of Senegalese friends (smiles).
Read also: AFCON 2023 - André Onana: "The most important thing is the next game"
Cameroon came close to defeat against Guinea before snatching a draw. What did you think of the team?
Emmanuel Adebayor: Guinea were a very good side. The red card changed a lot and allowed Cameroon to open up and get back into the game. But it was a poor performance. You don't sense a team with confidence, there are players searching for their form and they need leaders too. Unfortunately, absences such as Aboubakar's are also weighing on them.
Just before the game between Cameroon and Guinea, the André Onana saga came to an end with his arrival in the national team camp. What do you think of that episode?
Emmanuel Adebayor: André Onana showed no respect for Cameroon. I was a player like him. I was even the most important player in my national team and I never did that (arrive on the day of the game, editor's note). The fact that this situation has happened shows there is a problem, perhaps even as far up as the federation. And he risks losing a lot, because he has turned Cameroonian fans against him, and many African fans too... Probably some people in the dressing room as well.
🇹🇬💬Emmanuel Adebayor says he is touched by Osimhen's thanks at the CAF Awards.
🔗https://t.co/5yBVPnFjcr#sna #football #seriea #SEA #osimhen
— Sport News Africa (@snewsafrica) January 9, 2024