Olympic Marseille's 19-year-old player, Francois-Regis Mughe has chosen to remain in Europe in January while the AFCON is going on in Ivory Coast.
The pacy winger who received the call up to play for the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon insists his decision to stay back is on tactical reasons.
He has struggled with game time as he goes through with 7 appearances and 2 starts this season.
The uncapped player have however found his name in Rigobert Song's 27-man-squad for AFCON 2023 as he now declines in playing in the continental showpiece on tactical grounds.
Already Olympic Marseille's President, Pablo Langoria has called for the change in the time of the AFCON as five of his players namely Chancel Mbemba Mangulu, Azzedine Ounahi, Amin Harit, Ilmam Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr all named in their country's squad for the AFCON this year.
Luckily for his club, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Geoffrey Kondogbia could not play a part as Gabon and Central Africa Republic respectively, failed to qualify for the tournament which is a major boost for the club.
Recently, Austin Jay Jay Okocha slammed CAF for organising the AFCON in the middle of the season as he claims there are managers who don't want to sign African players because of times like these of which he expects the continent's football governing body to do something about it.
Cameroon will face a tough competition in a group which could be termed as group of death that includes Senegal, Guinea and Gambia.
With Francois Mughe declining in playing in the AFCON for Cameroon, it depends on coach Rigobert Song whether to replace him in the 27 man squad or not.
Story by: Mohammed Awal Hudu (Kessben FM/TV)
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