{"id":783384,"date":"2024-02-15T15:49:57","date_gmt":"2024-02-15T15:49:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.afriquesports.net\/en\/?p=783384"},"modified":"2024-02-15T15:49:59","modified_gmt":"2024-02-15T15:49:59","slug":"its-not-normal-emmanuel-adebayors-outcry-after-afcon-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.afriquesports.net\/en\/afcon-2023\/its-not-normal-emmanuel-adebayors-outcry-after-afcon-2023","title":{"rendered":"\u201cIt\u2019s not normal\u201d: Emmanuel Adebayor\u2019s outcry after AFCON 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The legend of Togolese football, Emmanuel Adebayor Sheyi, has returned from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, held in C\u00f4te d’Ivoire from January 11th to February 13th earlier this year. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking to our colleagues at Radio France Internationale (RFI), the former Arsenal player expressed deep concern about the situation of the Togo national team, which has disappeared from the scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well-known across Africa, Europe, and worldwide for his club exploits, Emmanuel Adebayor remains deeply connected to his homeland, Togo. Retired since last year, the former Manchester City and Real Madrid striker lives and closely follows events in his country. Kept away from the national team’s locker rooms by sporting authorities for unknown reasons, Adebayor never misses an opportunity to declare his love for the Sparrowhawks’ yellow jersey, with which he terrorized defenders during African Cup competitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\""It's<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Recently present at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in C\u00f4te d’Ivoire, he once again spoke out. Approached by RFI to discuss the situation of the national team led by Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte in recent months, the 2008 Ballon d’Or winner, who was chosen by CAF to present the 2023 AFCON trophy to the winner last Sunday, did not hide his frustration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“When you are a footballer at heart, if I am Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor today, it is thanks to football and especially thanks to my country. But when I see what my country is going through at the moment, it is very difficult to digest. We have not qualified for three AFCONs in a row, which is not normal at all,” he first exclaimed. “I had a 20-year career, I played in five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments with little Togo. I played in the 2006 World Cup. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back then, the AFCON had 16 teams, and we qualified every other tournament. Now that it’s expanded to 24 teams and we haven’t qualified for three times in a row, there is a problem,” Adebayor, who once again extends his hand to the ministry and the federation to offer his contribution, highlighted. “Everyone will try to bring their experience, what they have won or learned in football. We will put it into daily practice with the players so that Togo can play in the 2025 AFCON in Morocco,” he continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\""It's<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Adebayor as ambassador rather than coach<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regarding contribution, the question of the national team coach position was posed to him. While former African stars like Aliou Ciss\u00e9 with Senegal, Djamel Belmadi with Algeria, Rigobert Song with Cameroon, and recently Emerse Fae, who won the 2023 AFCON with Ivory Coast, feel more comfortable as technical managers of their countries, Emmanuel Adebayor rejects this idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u26bd\ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddec La #CAN2024<\/a> s'est termin\u00e9e dimanche 11 f\u00e9vrier. Les regards se tournent d\u00e9sormais vers la comp\u00e9tition en 2025

\u27a1\ufe0f Emmanuel Adebayor, au micro de @RFI_eco<\/a>, \u00e9voque sa frustration face aux r\u00e9sultats des \u00c9perviers, mais aussi le r\u00f4le qu'il souhaite jouer pour eux pic.twitter.com\/RPCeeOszeL<\/a><\/p>— RFI (@RFI) February 15, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>