---
title: "Joel Matip pulls out of African Cup of Nations"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/joel-matip-pulls-african-cup-nations/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Michael Oliver"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2016-12-20T13:12:44Z"
modified: "2016-12-20T13:12:44Z"
---

# Joel Matip pulls out of African Cup of Nations

Liverpool have been handed a much-needed boost ahead of the busy winter fixture period as Joel Matip will not be travelling with Cameroon to the African Cup of Nations next month.

> Twitter: Les défections commencent au Cameroun pour la #CAN2017 #Angissa #Amadou #Matip https://t.co/OXkhuQta1P (@Mansour\_Loum)

According to Mansour Loum, Matip, along with six other notable Cameroonian footballers including West Brom’s Allan Nyom have decided not to travel with the squad to Gabon.

The reason? Loum notes that in regards to Matip, “he does not wish to play with Cameroon for the moment due to a bad experience with the previous technical staff”.

The 25-year-old centre-back came over in the summer on a free transfer from Schalke and has added some much-needed quality to a previously shaky backline.

Matip has made 12 Premier League appearances for Liverpool since arriving but has missed three of the last four games with a Malleolar injury so perhaps him not travelling to the AFCON next month is a wise move on the fitness front as well.