Alan Shearer urges Yoane Wissa to skip AFCON to show loyalty to Newcastle

England legend Alan Shearer has called on Congolese international Yoane Wissa to withdraw from the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to prioritise his club duties with Newcastle United.

The remark is likely to spark debate once again over the ongoing tension between European clubs and African players ahead of the 2025 AFCON, which will take place in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January.

Wissa, 29, joined Newcastle from Brentford during the summer in a deal worth just over €50 million but has yet to make his debut for the Magpies due to injury.

The forward aggravated a knee problem while on international duty with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in September, a decision Shearer believes was ill-judged.

Speaking to Betfair, the former England captain said the striker should have focused on recovery instead of representing his country during the international window.

It will be a very difficult decision for Wissa not to play in the Africa Cup of Nations, because you always want to represent your country, Shearer said. But what I would say is that since he didn’t train and didn’t play during the summer, he could have shown more responsibility by not playing as much as he did in those two games with the DRC.

It will be difficult, but I understand that many people think he has never played for Newcastle and that he must show loyalty to us. Newcastle spent a lot of money on him and he hasn’t been able to step onto the pitch at St James’ Park yet.

Shearer’s comments reflect a recurring dilemma faced by African players in Europe — the conflict between national pride and club commitments.

For Wissa, who has earned 35 caps and scored eight goals for the DRC, representing his country remains a major source of honour.

Yet, his situation at Newcastle adds a layer of complexity, as he continues to recover and fight for a place in Eddie Howe’s squad.

The Newcastle manager confirmed that Wissa will be sidelined for at least two more weeks, extending his total absence to eight weeks — longer than initially expected.

That timeline leaves him little room to regain form before AFCON preparations begin.

Despite Shearer’s appeal for loyalty to the club, many expect Wissa to remain committed to the Leopards, particularly as the 2025 tournament presents another opportunity for the DRC to challenge among Africa’s elite.

🎙️| Alan Shearer demande à Yoane Wissa de ne pas jouer la prochaine CAN !

Lors d’une tribune réalisée sur le site @Betfair, la légende des magpies de Newcastle a exhorté Yoane Wissa à ne pas disputer la prochaine coupe d’Afrique des nations qui se disputera au Maroc du 21… pic.twitter.com/d5i2lhiZzs

— Joueurs Congolais 🐆🇨🇩 (@JoueursCD) October 16, 2025