Joël Matip on ACN commitments

Joël Matip has suggested that he may give the African Cup of Nations a miss and focus on his Liverpool career instead.

The 25-year-old summer signing has made a great impact so far so supporters have naturally feared losing him to the competition which runs between January 14th and February 5th.

Capped 27 times by Cameroon, Matip hasn’t played for them for more than a year and his relationship with the recently appointed Indomitable Lions boss Hugo Broos isn’t great.

Broos has previously criticised Matip for showing a lack of motivation. He continually criticises him publicly for his lack of commitment and says it’s probably best that he stays away from the squad if he can’t be bothered to play for his country.

Commenting on the ACN, Matip said: “I would say at the moment I will be concentrating on Liverpool. It is a long time until January so you never know, but that is the idea.

“Last year I had injury problems. The extra games and travelling were going to make it harder for me. I had to listen to my body and it told me that the international week was the right time to have a break.

“I spoke with the Cameroon manager and he was not happy, but I have to do what is right to be 100 per cent and make sure I am not injured again, especially at an important time in my career starting at Liverpool.”

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