If You Play in the African Cup of Nations… You’re Fired!
Plenty of clubs are putting up a fight to prevent their African players heading off to the African Cup of Nations. Portsmouth are preparing to officially protest Sulley Muntari joining the Ghana squad 14 days before the tournament starts, despite this being exactly what FIFA rules say they can do. Meanwhile Chelsea are trying to persuade Ghana to let Michael Essien fly back to London six days before the African Cup of Nations kicks off so he can play in their game against Tottenham before hopping straight back on the plane and heading back to Ghana. Oddly, Essien is apparently quite keen to do exactly that. Maybe he really really likes airplane food.
But neither Chelsea nor Portsmouth can match the anti-African Cup of Nations efforts of FC Ashdod. The Israeli club have told their Ghanaian keeper Sammy Adjei (pictured) that if he plays for his country in the tournament then he’s out of a job.
Adjei’s contract with FC Ashdod expires on May 31st and he’s been told that if he goes to Ghana then he shouldn’t bother coming back to Israel as his contract will 1) not be extended and 2) will be paid up immediately, effectively meaning he’d be fired and out of work. And FC Ashdod have already lined up former Maccabi Haifa keeper Tom Almadon as Adjei’s replacement.
Obviously FIFA laws state that FC Ashdod can’t do this, and the Ghanaian FA are planning to reject any request from Adjei to skip the tournament and to make a proper complaint to UEFA.
All my sympathies go to Adjei who’s caught in the middle of this now bi-annual club versus country battle over the African Cup of Nations. While players like Micahel Essien and Sulley Muntari might be feeling the emotional strain of being torn between two teams, at least both know their clubs will want them back after the tournament. Adjei could lose his job.
Since FC Asdod are treating Adjei with an almost total lack of respect and already lining up replacements for him, I hope Adjei decides he doesn’t need them, travels to Ghana anyway and then finds himself a new club for next season.
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Comments
By Sam | January 4th, 2008 at 2:52 pm 
What the fuck?
Posted from 
Canada
By Moni | January 4th, 2008 at 3:00 pm This club FC Asdod should be burned to the ground where it belong
Posted from 
Netherlands
By Samuel Knight (Oudegeest) | January 4th, 2008 at 3:16 pm Have to say that my vote is with the clubs on this one.
FIFA is out of there mind on the number of national team matches players play right now.
The clubs pay the players salaries, not the national teams. You don’t like the deal - go somewhere else.
As a Dutch fan, great to see Van Persie lock up the Euro slot. But it sucked as an Arsenal fan to see him go down to a cheap hit from a no-name defender.
The collision is coming between the clubs and FIFA. And if I were a club owner it would be no friendlies, and show up right before the game if it’s the middle of the season.
Posted from 
United States
By Moni | January 5th, 2008 at 3:24 pm Dear Samuel knight,
this is about CAN 2008 Ghana , not about Van Persie. This also shows how people from Europe and the new-Europeans don”t have respect for african countries.
Africans always have to work for the european /American/westerncountries
cause and forget there one cause, thats a “”good”" African
Thats why its normal the arrogant Approach towards this tournament from EU clubs.
Go to hell , don”t buy African players, they could bennefit African Champions league and improve there leagues.
You people don”t no nothing about african foot, not Africa need EU clubs. EU clubs need african players, because they are the worlds best.
Arsene wenger is a true man ,like he said, If you don”t like it, then don”t buy players from this continent.
Posted from Netherlands
By Darth | January 6th, 2008 at 9:08 am I agree with you Moni, when you buy a player from Africa, you know about ANC and all the issues with it. It’s funny, because most of the African players are scouted from ANC, bought at cheap prices, and then there is pressure on them so they will not go to a future ANC tournament. It’s an arrogant approach , and I am 100% with the Africans on this one.
By dxfactor | January 7th, 2008 at 10:37 pm This is just sickening. The blatant racism and disrespect towards African players is just deplorable. How can we call this a fair sport when a UEFA licensed team can publicly reprimand it’s players for showing patriotism. FIFA, like the ballz-less organization they are, will let this fly by. I can assure you nothing will be done to help these African players. Europe always wants to dictate the African Continent. If you dont want these players, dont buy them. Its as simple as that.
By augustine | January 31st, 2008 at 7:41 am this is a studend of G T C KUMBA and i like eto’o fils
By tetteh | March 7th, 2008 at 8:32 am please i want to playblack stars in my llfe
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