Liverpool defender Joel Matip has confirmed that he doesn’t intend to play for Cameroon at the African Cup of Nations in January.
The competition runs between 14th January and 5th February and the centre back would have missed crucial matches against Chelsea and Manchester United, as well as Swansea and Hull City if Cameroon made it all the way to the final. The 25 year old told the Telegraph that although his national team manager will not be happy about it, he wants to stay with the Reds during a vital month of the season and he believes it will also help his fitness:
“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.”
Matip spent the first month of the season recovering from an ankle injury he sustained in preseason but he has now established himself as first choice alongside Dejan Lovren at the heart of Liverpool’s defence. The pair will likely start tonight when the Reds face Chelsea in the league at Stamford Bridge.
