a écrit le 6 novembre 2005 à 18h32 Assou-Ekotto Is A Lion
Paris - November 6, 2005
French-born defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto has reconfirmed his desire to play for Cameroon, but not until after the MTN Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt.
The 21-year-old, who has been competing with his club Racing Lens in the UEFA Cup this season, had been named in the Indomitable Lions’ squad by Cameroon’s coach Artur Jorge for the World Cup qualifier against Egypt last month.
But Assou-Ekotto was then replaced by another French-based defender Jean-Joel Perrier Doumbe when it emerged he would not be travelling to Cameroon for the match.
Assou-Ekotto is insisting he is committed to playing for Cameroon, despite speculation his withdrawal from the squad came after pressure to keep his international options open with a view to a possible future career with the French national team.
“I am playing for Cameroon. That’s a fact. Elimination from the World Cup has changed nothing,†said Assou-Ekotto in an interview in the French press.
“I will not be playing at the Nations Cup finals as I agreed upon this with my club long ago but within six months to a year I will be an Indomitable Lion,†he said.
Assou-Ekotto said he had had no contact from any French Football Federation officials.
“I’ve never had any contact, not a discussion or a call-up for any team,†he insisted.
Paris - November 6, 2005
French-born defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto has reconfirmed his desire to play for Cameroon, but not until after the MTN Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt.
The 21-year-old, who has been competing with his club Racing Lens in the UEFA Cup this season, had been named in the Indomitable Lions’ squad by Cameroon’s coach Artur Jorge for the World Cup qualifier against Egypt last month.
But Assou-Ekotto was then replaced by another French-based defender Jean-Joel Perrier Doumbe when it emerged he would not be travelling to Cameroon for the match.
Assou-Ekotto is insisting he is committed to playing for Cameroon, despite speculation his withdrawal from the squad came after pressure to keep his international options open with a view to a possible future career with the French national team.
“I am playing for Cameroon. That’s a fact. Elimination from the World Cup has changed nothing,†said Assou-Ekotto in an interview in the French press.
“I will not be playing at the Nations Cup finals as I agreed upon this with my club long ago but within six months to a year I will be an Indomitable Lion,†he said.
Assou-Ekotto said he had had no contact from any French Football Federation officials.
“I’ve never had any contact, not a discussion or a call-up for any team,†he insisted.
