Chad: several players no longer willing to play for the national team
After the controversial announcement of a change of head coach, four key members of Chad's national team have announced they are stepping away
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"There is no serious project to move our Chad national team forward, yet when results don't follow, it's the players who get the blame. For now, I'd rather focus on my career."
In two sentences, Amine Hiver, one of the few Chadians playing abroad (in Zambia, at Zesco United), summed up the feelings of many players. As reported by Sport News Africa following the chaotic announcement of the change of head coach, several Sao players were thoroughly disillusioned with the overall running of the national team, as typified by goalkeeper Gabin Allambatnan:
Read also: Chad: a change of head coach that has tongues wagging
"As a proud Chadian, leaving our clubs to join up with the national team is a sacrifice we make out of love for our country. However, we keep finding the same poor conditions and the same lack of respect.
A real project had been put in place, and we finally had hope, but all of that has been abandoned. For these reasons, I will not be able to join the team. I hope for a better future for Chadian football, where every player is respected and where efforts are valued."
Two more players are also expected to make the same announcement
Following the example of former captain Marius Mouandilmadji, who walked out after the latest AFCON qualifying campaign, openly criticising the way the national team was treated, other senior players have posted on social media to say they will focus solely on their club careers.
Besides Amine Hiver and Gabin Allambatnan, Ahmed Ngouyamsa (Rodez, French Ligue 2) and Eric Mbangossoum (SuperSport United in South Africa) have made the same decision. According to our information, two other players are expected to do the same in the coming days.
A bitter blow for the Sao, who had finally managed to build a team spirit and string together a few positive results after years of struggle and suspension...