In recent days, there has been a notable refusal from François Régis Mughe to participate in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) with Cameroon. Several media reports indicate potential sanctions looming over the player and the club.
François-Régis Mughe is at risk of facing sanctions for declining the opportunity to join Cameroon for the upcoming CAN. The striker from Olympique de Marseille reportedly turned down the invitation, citing that the club had made no promises regarding his playing time.
Despite having very limited playing time since the start of the season (7 appearances, with only two starts in all competitions) and no participation in the last five matches, François Mughe has chosen to boycott the Cameroonian national team, despite being called up by Rigobert Song to participate in the CAN.
Significant uncertainty surrounding Mughe’s refusal to join Cameroon
There is significant uncertainty surrounding Mughe’s refusal to join Cameroon. Jean-Michel Larqué commented, “That’s not how you earn your place. Obviously, if there’s a smallpox epidemic, you’ll play. It bothers me. Little Mughe, the day they don’t call him, he’ll be the first to cry to his mother’s skirts! You have to know what you want in life,” in response to the winger’s decision.
However, according to information from La Provence, François Mughe’s choice is not driven by a desire for playing time at Marseille but rather by “personal issues,” particularly a difficult relationship with his Federation.
As suggested in the past 48 hours, the 19-year-old player could face sanctions from the Fécafoot (Cameroonian Federation) if he decides to involve FIFA. The winger could potentially be suspended for the entire duration of the Lions Indomptables’ journey. According to some sources, no promises have been made to the player, neither by the club nor by Gennaro Gattuso, regarding his playing time in the coming weeks. The door to the national team could be permanently closed to him.
In any case, the Cameroonian Federation may react in the coming days, as “a player called up to one of the representative teams of his association does not have the right, unless otherwise agreed with that association, to play for the club with which he is registered for the duration or the expected duration of his availability,” as Foot Mercato reminds.
Mughe already replaced by Cameroon
Actu Cameroun outlines the risks faced by Marseille and François Régis Mughe in this affair. The player could be subject to suspension. According to various sources close to the Federation, Cameroon is willing to take significant measures to assert its rights.
Some media reports suggest that the Cameroonian Football Federation may file a complaint with FIFA unless François Mughe reverses his decision in the coming hours. If the young Marseille player remains steadfast in his convictions, he may not be allowed to play with Marseille until Cameroon is eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations, according to the same source.
Consequently, François-Régis Mughe will not be part of the Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, scheduled from January 13 to February 11. The winger from Olympique de Marseille has chosen not to join the Lions Indomptables of Cameroon to compete in the tournament.
As a result, coach Rigobert Song must now find a replacement for the player originally from Douala. Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu, the 29-year-old forward from Dynamo Moscow, has been called up by the former Cameroonian captain. Absent during the last gathering of the Lions Indomptables, the former Young Boys player from Bern has scored 3 goals and provided 9 assists in 46 appearances for the Cameroonian national team.
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