AFCON 2021: Choupo-Moting feels 'disrespected' by Cameroon boss

The Bayern Munich striker refused to play for the Indomitable Lions in their third-place play-off against Burkina Faso.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting played for Cameroon in their first four games of the Africa Cup of Nations. However, Indomitable Lions manager Toni Conceicao kept him on the bench for his side’s quarter-final and semi-final games.

The Portuguese manager listed the Bayern Munich striker in his lineup for Cameroon’s third-place play-off against Burkina Faso. However, Choupu-Moting refused to play, with sources saying he has decided to never play again under Conceicao.

Choupo-Moting was in Cameroon's starting XI for the AFCON third place match today, but later got replaced. The official reason is that he's injured, but early reports in Cameroon claim he refused to play & told coach Toni Conceição he won't play under him again [@MarcCHOUAMO] pic.twitter.com/EylX5XZ0kl
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) February 5, 2022

In an interview with BBC, the 32-year-old spoke opened up on his frustration over the manager’s decision.

“Especially what happened in the quarter-final and semi-final when the coach didn’t count on me for me it was a kind of disrespect,” he said.

“I came here to help the team to win the Afcon I am not a young 18-year-old player and I want to play and to give everything. At the end of the day I respect every decision from the coach you have to as he is the boss but you don’t have to understand it – so I don’t understand.

“This is the reason I told him I was not fit to play today [Saturday]. But I will always be happy to represent Cameroon. It was just difficult.”

Choupo-Moting will now return to Munich after Cameroon finished third in the tournament. The striker will most likely be available for Bayern’s upcoming game against Bochum on Saturday.