The 32-year-old Bayern striker played in the Indomitable Lions’ first four games at the tournament but was then an unused substitute for the quarter-final and semi-final.


He was originally listed as the captain of the team by the Cameroon Football Federation for the third-placed play-off against Burkina Faso but when the teamsheets were announced he was not even among the substitutes.

After Cameroon’s dramatic comeback from 3-0 down to clinch the bronze medal Choupo-Moting explained he had decided he was not fit enough to play.

“Especially what happened in the quarter-final and semi-final when the coach didn’t count on me for me it was a kind of disrespect,” the former Paris Saint-Germain player said after the game.

“I came here to help the team to win the Afcon. I am not a young 18-year-old player and I want to play and to give everything.

“At the end of the day I respect every decision from the coach, you have to as he is the boss but you don’t have to understand it – so I don’t understand.

“This is the reason I told him I was not fit to play today. But I will always be happy to represent Cameroon. It was just difficult.”

The coach explained after the game that the experienced forward did not fit in with his tactical plan as he was making his substitutions.

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