Fashanu: Klopp owes Africa an apology

by Staff Reporter

Saturday Nov 27, 2021. 13:00

Former England international John Fashanu has slammed Jurgen Klopp for describing the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals as a “little” competition.

The Liverpool FC manager recently spoke about losing his star players, Mohamed Salah of Egypt and Sadio Mane of Senegal to the upcoming 2022 AFCON finals in January.

“In January, there’s a little tournament in Africa…,” Klopp said during a post-match conference after Liverpool thumped Arsenal FC 4-0 in an English Premier League last weekend.

Fashanu – a Nigerian by descent – feels that the German tactician’s comments are a slap on black players around the world.

“This is a big slap on black players around the world. I am very disappointed that somebody who we rated as highly as we did can literally drip that out with his silly mouth,” Fashanu told The Punch.

“It is an insult to us all and he owes the continent an apology and he also owes every black football man and woman an apology, to belittle us that way is very dangerous.

“Some black footballers have lost their lives fighting for equality and this man just put us right back by saying our competition means nothing.”

The 2022 AFCON finals will be hosted by Cameroon between January 9 and February 6.