Choupo-Moting’s father explains why Joël Matip doesn’t want to play for the Cameroon National team.

During an interview with “Radio Sport Info” on July 24, Just Choupo-Moting revealed that the defender was outraged by the decision of the former president of FECAFOOT which was to sanction all those who refused to compete at the African Cup of Nations in 2017.
Just Choupo-Moting, the father of the captain of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting believes he knows the real reason for the withdrawal of the selection of Joël Matip. On Radio Sport Info (RSI) this July 24, the man who serves as an agent for his offspring said that it is because the former president of the Cameroon Football Federation, Tombi to Roko Sidiki, had decided to Sanction them for refusing to defend the colours of Cameroon that some internationals including Joël Matip have decided to leave the selection.

“It really hurt all of these players. Everyone was scared, everyone shook. They said to themselves: “but if we don’t go to CAN why do you want to spoil our career? So what’s the point of coming back to play in this country? “I’m telling you because I was the one who unlocked the whole situation. I was my son’s lawyer. It was I who wrote with Schalke to make sure that we did not block them because Cameroon had really lodged a complaint, had really asked that we block the players, that they no longer play until CAN ends and they no longer play in their clubs. It really hurt a lot and I don’t think there is anyone who can’t understand that, “said Choupo-Moting Sr.

For him, in Matip’s situation, it was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. However, he expects that the change of leaders in the federation makes the player return to better feelings.

“A child like Joël Matip who is calm, who has never had any problems, who comes all the time. Sometimes he doesn’t play, knowing he’s up to it, but he doesn’t complain. When something like that happens on top of that it’s not easy to convince him to come back. I’m his daddy’s friend. He tried to talk to him, he replied that he had made up his mind. You never know in football he can come back. If he comes back better for us. If the federation officials listen to me, things should change in the Federation. He cannot come back to find the same things, ”thinks the father of Choupo-Moting.
Present in the selection from March 2010, Matip began to sulk after the 2014 World Cup before announcing his final withdrawal in March 2017.

“I inform you that I am ending my national career. It was not an easy decision for me, but this chapter is now over. I thought a lot. And believe me, I didn’t take my decision lightly. I tried to play and represent my country, to do my best and achieve something, but the entourage was not in favour. In the last two years after the 2014 World Cup, I have only played one game with the Lions. We can not continue to say, maybe next time, everything will be fine, at some point, it must be put to an end, ”the footballer announced in the columns of the British newspaper Times.