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Togo Coach Saintfiet Gives Up On Adebayor

Togo Coach Saintfiet Gives Up On Adebayor

Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor is once again at the centre of controversy following a statement from Togo national team coach Tom Saintfiet revealing that he will no longer make an effort to call up the veteran attacker for matches.

This decision comes in the wake of the player not arriving in camp to take part in their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Djibouti last weekend.

Adebayor was involved in the first qualifier a few months ago, though he arrived late to camp for that encounter. Despite his lack of respect in arriving late, he was given the opportunity to play and scored a crucial goal against Liberia to help the Sparrow Hawks earn a 2-1 victory.

In the second match this past weekend which Adebayor missed the Togolese emerged victorious once again, achieving a 2-0 win over Djibouti, but the main focus of the media and fans seemed to be on the absence of the striker, who did not bother to turn up following his call up to the national team.

Speaking about the issue, Belgian Saintfiet explained his feelings on the matter through the use of an interesting analogy.

“If you are dating a woman who does not want to respond positively, then you must look for another woman,” the coach told Sky Sports.

“For me, it is clear that it is a player who does not want to play for his country any more and he does not want his country to be qualified for the next African Cup of Nations,” he went on to say.

“He has agreed to play against Liberia, and not against Djibouti. For me, it is not the duty of a player to decide against which opponent he will play.”

The player not honouring his national team call up is yet another issue for Adebayor in a list of professional and personal problems that have revolved around the Togolese player over the last few years, with family problems affecting him along with struggles at club side Tottenham Hotspur.

The 31-year-old striker tried desperately to leave the North London club during the recent transfer window, but was unable to complete a move away from Spurs.

This latest development not only questions Adebayor’s commitment to the national team, but his ability to rectify the situation, with Saintfiet upset at his striker for snubbing national duty.