Turkish club Besiktas has opted to part ways with its four African players, Vincent Aboubakar and Jean Onana from Cameroon, Éric Bailly from Ivory Coast, and Algerian Rachid Ghezzal. This decision comes in the wake of the team’s recent subpar performances in the local championship, with the club management attributing the decision to the players’ alleged poor performance and perceived incompatibility within the team.
The announcement was made by Samet Aybaba, the general coordinator of the football teams, who cited the necessity for a shift in the team dynamics to address their lackluster results.
This surprising move leaves the quartet sidelined just weeks before the commencement of the highly anticipated African Cup of Nations (CAN 2023).
Vincent Aboubakar, a notable name among the affected players, had contributed significantly, participating in 22 matches across various competitions, with an impressive record of 11 goals and 3 assists. Meanwhile, John Onana had featured in 10 matches, registering a single assist.
Besiktas Istanbul 🇹🇷 announces having excluded 5 players from the squad for “Poor Performance” and “incompatibility within the team»
🇨🇮 Eric Bailly
🇨🇲 Vincent Aboubakar
🇫🇷 Valentin Rosier
🇩🇿 Rachid Ghezzal
🇨🇲 Jean Onana pic.twitter.com/Zs5x8y4ieL— Foot d’Afrique (@Foot_dafrique) December 12, 2023
Éric Bailly, a defender for Besiktas, had been fielded 8 times during the current season, without finding the back of the net or providing an assist. Rachid Ghezzal, who played a crucial role with 12 appearances, managed to score one goal and provided 3 assists.
Besiktas’ decision to part ways with these players not only raises eyebrows but also has potential implications for the affected African players as they navigate their careers.
As Besiktas recalibrates its strategy, the footballing community is left to ponder the consequences of this unexpected roster reshuffling on both the club’s performance and the future trajectories of the departing players.
