Invited to play for Cameroon, his club asks him to withdraw from Afcon 2023

Cameroon has received some bad news less than two weeks before the kick-off of the Afcon 2023, scheduled for January 13 to February 11, 2024 in Côte d’Ivoire. Summoned by Rigobert Song, national coach of the Indomitable Lions, François- Régis Mughe is said to be in the process of withdrawing his call-up.

Cameroon has been the talk of the town in recent weeks. After Bryan Mbeumo’s withdrawal, coach Rigobert Song deliberately left Maxim Choupo-Moting off his list for the Afcon 2023. Then there was the controversy surrounding the age of Wilfried Nathan Douala, called up for the continental tournament at just 17.

With André Onana under pressure at Manchester United ahead of the Afcon 2023, Rigobert Song is facing some rather upsetting news. According to the local press, François-Regis Mughe (19) may not play in the Afcon 2023, despite having been called up.

François-Regis Mughe suffers a press attack at l’OM

François-Regis Mughe’s participation in the Afcon 2023 is in doubt. According to Actu Cameroun, a local media outlet, the young Cameroon international is receiving constant press from Marseille coach Gennaro Gattuso.

The Italian coach is said to have promised him more playing time at club level if he withdraws from the Afcon 2023. An offer that has François-Regis Mughe and his clan thinking hard. Pending the Douala native’s decision, the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot), which has been informed of the situation, will not hesitate to sanction the player should he withdraw his call-up.

CAN 2023 displeases OM

One of the clubs most affected by the Afcon 2023 is Olympique de Marseille. Having signed up several African stars during the mercatos, OM finds itself without some of its key players for several weeks.

With the likes of Chancel Mbemba, Ismaila Sarr, Ilman Ndiaye, Amine Harit and Azzedine Ounahi, OM have lost more players than any other French club. And it would have been worse if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon) and Kondogbia (Central African Republic) had also qualified for the Afcon 2023

François-Regis Mughe, hardly used this season (9 games and 1 goal since 2022 with OM), has also been called up by Cameroon for the Afcon 2023. But being young and with little playing time, the Indomitable Lion is under enormous pressure from Geranno Gattuso.