Brice Dja Djédjé Explains Absence from Ivory Coast’s AFCON 2015 Squad
Brice Dja Djédjé will not be taking part in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations with the Ivorian national team. The Olympique de Marseille right-back has shed light on the reasons behind his decision in an interview with L’Équipe, citing a lack of transparency from national team coach Hervé Renard.
“The problem,” Dja Djédjé said, “is that the coach wasn’t honest with me. One day he would say one thing, the next day the opposite. Let’s not kid ourselves: I play for OM, and there’s competition, just like in the Ivory Coast squad. I’ve never been afraid of competition, but things have to be clear.”
Dja Djédjé, who is enjoying a solid season as a starter for Marseille, believes the uncertainty surrounding his role with the national team played a major part in his decision.
“If you go to the AFCON and you don’t even know if you’re going to play, or whether it’ll be on the right or the left, while things are going well at your club — it’s frustrating. I’m playing my first full season at a big club. I didn’t want to leave Marseille without knowing where I stood with the national team coach. The most important thing is to be frank and honest.”
This statement casts doubt on Hervé Renard’s communication methods and reveals the tension that can exist between club commitments and unclear roles in international duty. While Dja Djédjé remains open to representing his country, he insists that transparency must be at the heart of any future involvement.
