Former Asec Mimosa player of Ivory Coast, Akeem Ogunlade, sheds light on the potential drawbacks of selecting players born abroad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Ogunlade, drawing on his experience, particularly emphasizes the adverse impact of the high temperatures prevalent in Ivory Coast during the tournament.
Speaking on the matter, Ogunlade expressed concerns about the climatic conditions, stating, “The real weather, African weather. We have 30 degrees in Cote d’Ivoire. We’re going to have like 30 degrees, 32 degrees.
It’s not easy for them to cope.” He recalled a past encounter in 1992 when Nigeria faced Ivory Coast, and the opposing team raised eyebrows over the inclusion of a foreign player.
Ogunlade shared an anecdote, recounting Donald-Olivier Sie’s reaction to a white player marking him. Olivier reportedly questioned, “How can you bring a white man to come and mark me in Africa?” Ogunlade explained that the Ivorian player believed the foreign player would struggle due to being unaccustomed to the local weather conditions.
Further elaborating on the challenges faced by foreign-born players, Akeem Ogunlade highlighted the lack of time for acclimatization, stating, “Most of them are still in their club now and they are coming to Africa at 32 degrees.
That is why most people are saying, why can’t you groom those maybe who started with you.” The former Asec Mimosa player pointed out that the abrupt transition from their club environments to the higher temperatures in Ivory Coast could pose physical challenges for players born abroad.
Ogunlade’s insights raise questions about the feasibility of integrating foreign-born players seamlessly into teams participating in AFCON, underscoring the importance of considering climatic conditions when selecting squads for the tournament.
