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Hugo Ekitiké snubbed by France and Cameroon, leaving his future in doubt.
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The Liverpool striker’s bright start has not earned him a call-up.
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For now, his international path remains closed.
Liverpool’s new signing Hugo Ekitiké was snubbed by both France and Cameroon, his chances of international football now unclear.
Also Read: World Cup Qualifiers: France Omit Ekitike, Hand Akliouche Debut
Didier Deschamps left him out of France’s latest squad, and Cameroon coach Marc Brys has also shut the door on him.
When asked about Ekitiké before World Cup qualifiers against Eswatini and Cape Verde, Brys said:
“I didn’t contact him. He put all his money into trying to play with France but he didn’t succeed. And now we, Cameroon, are the second choice? I don’t need to be a second choice.”
“He doesn’t deserve to come here. We have good players who play with their heart. I don’t need a star.” – he added.
Ekitiké was born in Reims to a Cameroonian father and a French mother and chose to go back to France.
Once that option closed, Brys refused to use him as a fallback.
He scored in each of his first three competitive games after a €95 million move from Frankfurt to Liverpool, yet Deschamps still left him out of the squad for September’s qualifiers against Ukraine and Iceland.
After 11 caps and five goals for France U21s, Ekitiké now faces a big challenge.
He must keep producing top form at Liverpool to force a recall.
For now, Hugo Ekitiké snubbed by both nations sums up where he stands.
