Arsenal legend Ian Wright has slammed the “disrespect” shown towards the AFCON and says coverage of the tournament is “tinged with racism”.
Cameroon is scheduled to host AFCON from January 9 to February 6 but the decision to stage the tournament during the domestic European season, and amid rising cases of Omicron Covid‑19 variant, has attracted some criticism.
READ ALSO: AFCON 2021: Profile of Morocco national football team
Earlier this month, the European Clubs Association (ECA) raised its concerns in a letter to FIFA and expressed its reluctance to release players for the tournament.
Never has a truer word been spoken!
— Mike Madoda (@mikemadoda) December 29, 2021
Thank you @IanWright0 for standing up for Africa. Champion✊🏾 pic.twitter.com/wCohzJeUEy
Former Arsenal striker Wright has hit back at those concerns and has questioned why they were not applied to the delayed Euro 2020, which was staged across Europe earlier this year.
The former England striker said on his TikTok channel: “Is there ever a tournament more disrespected than the Africa Cup of Nations?
“There is no great honour, none other than representing your country. The coverage is completely tinged with racism.
“We played our Euros across 10 countries in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic and no issues.
“But Cameroon, a single country hosting the tournament is a problem?
"You're getting players who are getting asked if they will be honouring their call-ups to their national teams. Image if that was an English player representing the Three Lions."
READ ALSO: AFCON 2021: Profile of Senegal national football team
Wright’s comments echo those of Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira, who recently called for AFCON to receive the level of respect it deserves.
“I believe that that competition needs to be more respected - because this competition is as important as the European Championships,” said Vieira.
Wright thanked Vieira for his support and has called on fans of English clubs to get behind their African players when the tournament begins next month.
“Some of the best players in Europe right now are Africans. If we love them at our clubs, why not love them at their national teams across the globe,” added Wright.
“Why is this tournament constantly getting so much flak?
“Shout outs to countries that have qualified and players like Sebastien Haller who has taken a stand against the media backlash plus Patrick Vieira.”
Up to 40 Premier League players are set to compete at AFCON, including the likes of Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez and Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
Algeria are the defending champions, having beaten Senegal in the final of the 2019 tournament.