By Andrew Warshaw
January 30 – Zambia’s coach at the African Cup of Nations, Hervé Renard (pictured), has called on FIFA to tighten the regulations on naturalised players.
The Zambians booked their place in the last eight of the competition by beating co-hosts Equatorial Guinea yesterdayy, but in the build-up to the game Renard questioned the make-up of the Equatorial Guinea side, most of whose players were born abroad.
Equatorial Guinea had already reached the quarterfinals after winning their first two games and Renard said: “I think FIFA has to control everything.”
FIFA rules state naturalised players must have lived in their adopted country for a minimum of five years.
“I would be very disappointed if, in 10 years’ time, I saw a national team fielding five players who didn’t have any connection with that country,” said Renard.
“I think it is a shame if it happens in the future and I ask FIFA to be very tough about this.”
Equatorial Guinea’s line-ups have largely included a mix of Spanish-based players, who qualify through their parents, and naturalised players from Brazil, Liberia, Cameroon and Cape Verde.
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