Hugo Ekitike (L) was not called up by Cameroon coach Marc Brys (R)
Cameroon national team head coach Marc Brys has said he has no intention of inviting Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike to join his squad.
According to Brys, the former Eintracht Frankfurt forward has made several attempts to represent France but was repeatedly overlooked.
As a result, the player may now be considering Cameroon. However, Brys insists he will not welcome him, stressing that Cameroon should not be treated as a second choice.
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The Belgian coach stated that he only wants players who are fully committed to the national team, not those who need to be convinced or pursued.
“I haven’t contacted him, and I’ll tell you why. He’s been trying to play for France, hasn’t succeeded, and now we Cameroonians are the second choice. I don’t need such second options. We have so many good players who play with their hearts, and that’s what I want.
“I don’t need a star who thinks he can pick and choose between countries. He’s a good player, no doubt, but based on the situation I explained, he doesn’t deserve to be here,” Brys said in an interview with Foot Mercato.
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Ekitike is yet to make his senior debut for France and remains eligible to play for Cameroon despite representing France at the U-21 level.
But as long as Brys is in charge, that door appears to be firmly closed.
Still, if the striker maintains his current goalscoring form at Liverpool, a future France call-up could remain on the horizon.
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