Eric Choupo-Moting will be one of the notable absentees from the upcoming CAN 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire. The former captain of the Cameroonian national team and Bayern Munich striker was left off Rigobert Song’s 27-man squad, which has surprised many observers, including the player himself. « I was a bit surprised. Eric Maxim was also surprised. I don’t know why he wasn’t selected. He doesn’t know either. We have no evidence, » said Just Choupo-Moting, the footballer’s father.
He further added, « If a player like Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is preselected, it means it’s clear that he will be selected. Two days before Rigobert Song’s list was released, we learned through social media and newspapers that he might not be selected. Then, it was added that there were ongoing negotiations and that after those, it would be decided if he would be selected or not. Considering that Maxim and I were not informed, who was negotiating? This means that among the decision-makers, there were those who were in favor of his selection and others against it. The coach wanted Choupo to come, but it was the others who didn’t want him. The coach wanted to convey that he couldn’t do otherwise. »
