AFCON needs to be more respected - Crystal Palace boss Vieira

is on the verge of starting, with the date being 9 January, 2022 and there have been many speculations surrounding the tournament being either postponed or canceled.

When the FIFA president

Infantino Gianni

showed his support regarding the tournament’s postponement, the rumors have become stronger, with Gianni revealing that it would be wiser if the AFCON is played in September.

A letter was sent to FIFA by the European Club Association and the reasons behind their reluctance to send players to feature in AFCON were explained. Their biggest concern is that the medical and operational protocols of the tournament are not suitable.

Patrick Vieira

thinks the importance of the AFCON for Africans is not being taken into account by the journalists and people discussing whether it should be postponed.

The former

captain also emphasized how he would never stop his players from the opportunity to represent their country, notwithstanding losing three players in the

squad during that time.

“

I respect and understand the passion and the importance to players to go and represent their country so I will never stop any player going to play the Africa Cup of Nations,

” the Senegalese born said.

“I believe that that competition needs to be more respected – because this competition is as important as the European Championships.

“It might be important for you guys [the journalists] to cover the Africa Cup of Nations a little bit more and to go to Africa and interview people to really understand what it means for every single one of them.

“When you are talking about Senegal, I don’t think people would really understand if (Sadio) Mane or Cheikou Kouyate didn’t represent their nation. If there was more coverage of that competition, I think people will understand more how important it is for the African continent,” he concluded.

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