Okocha faults Afcon 2023 timing as French Ligue 1 set to miss 56 players

With just few days before the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire, Ligue 1 will be missing nothing less than fifty-six players representing their respective countries from January 13 to February 11.

Although the AFCON falls within the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) calendar and clubs are mandated to release players 14 days before the start of the competition, Super Eagles legend Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has faulted the timing of the tournament.

Taking a closer look, the former PSG star might be proven right with French Ligue 1 set to miss over 50 players to the tournament.

Okocha who won the 1994 AFCON title with Nigeria insists having the competition in the middle of the season is unfair to the players as they’ll miss a part of their team’s season, and risk jeopardizing their playing time after returning from the competition.

“They’ve made it so difficult for African players by playing in January or starting the season and winter break very, very early,” Okocha told BBC Sport Africa.

“If they can move the World Cup to December because of the heat to suit the nations that are participating, why can’t they do something about the Nations Cup, and work together so that it will not affect anybody?”

Amongst the top-five European leagues, the French Ligue 1 has the highest population of French-speaking African players, most of whom come from Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Guinea.

Clubs like F.C. Metz will lose about eleven players. Some of these players are key players for the club and will be absent for about a month as the club fights for safety, with just two points above the relegation spots.

In the German Bundesliga, Bayer 04 Leverkusen will be without four players (Amine Adli, Edmond Tapsoba, Victor Boniface, and Odillon Kossounou), while Premier League side, Nottingham Forest will also be without six players.