Former England striker John Fashanu has hit out at Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp for describing the Africa Cup of Nations tournament as a “little” competition.
After Saturday’s 4-0 Premier League win against Arsenal at Anfield, the German tactician talked about the possibility of losing Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Senegal’s Sadio Mane to the biennial African football showpiece.
“In January, there’s a little tournament in Africa…,” Klopp said. Reacting to his statement, Fashanu, who is of Nigerian descent and managed two appearances for the Three Lions during his playing days, believes Klopp’s comments is a big 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 literarily drip that out with his silly mouth,” Fashanu said, according to reports.
“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.”
Meanwhile, former Nigeria midfielder Mutiu Adepoju has also condemned the statement by Klopp terming it “selfish interest.”
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