Mali striker Frederic Kanoute has admitted his anguish over missing the last game of the season for Spanish title contenders FC Sevilla, in order to play an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Mali striker Frederic Kanoute has admitted his anguish over missing the last game of the season for Spanish title contenders FC Sevilla, in order to play an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Kanoute has received a national team call-up for Mali's Group Nine game against Sierra Leone, ruling him out of Sevilla's match against Villarreal.
"I want to play for my country because they need me, but I would also like to play here," Kanoute said.
"I don't understand how the two games could be scheduled for the same day. It's not logical.
"What is clear is that it will be impossible to play them both because they are practically on the same day," said the Malian marksman.
Kanoute, who has scored 21 league goals this season, will, however, be available to play for Sevilla in the final of the King's Cup against Getafe on June 23.
Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o could also miss Barcelona's last game of the season
Uefa Cup champions Sevilla trail league-leaders Real Madrid and Barcelona by two points with two games remaining.
Kanoute's Mali teammate - Real Madrid midfielder Mahamadou Diarra - is likely to find himself in the same situation for Real Madrid's final home match against Mallorca.
Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o is also expected to be called up for Cameroon's Group Five qualifier against Rwanda which could rule the striker out of a possible title decider against Gimnastic. - BBC
Club,country dogs striker
Mali striker Frederic Kanoute has admitted his anguish over missing the last game of the season for Spanish title contenders FC Sevilla, in order to play an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Mali striker Frederic Kanoute has admitted his anguish over missing the last game of the season for Spanish title contenders FC Sevilla, in order to play an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Kanoute has received a national team call-up for Mali's Group Nine game against Sierra Leone, ruling him out of Sevilla's match against Villarreal.
"I want to play for my country because they need me, but I would also like to play here," Kanoute said.
"I don't understand how the two games could be scheduled for the same day. It's not logical.
"What is clear is that it will be impossible to play them both because they are practically on the same day," said the Malian marksman.
Kanoute, who has scored 21 league goals this season, will, however, be available to play for Sevilla in the final of the King's Cup against Getafe on June 23.
Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o could also miss Barcelona's last game of the season
Uefa Cup champions Sevilla trail league-leaders Real Madrid and Barcelona by two points with two games remaining.
Kanoute's Mali teammate - Real Madrid midfielder Mahamadou Diarra - is likely to find himself in the same situation for Real Madrid's final home match against Mallorca.
Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o is also expected to be called up for Cameroon's Group Five qualifier against Rwanda which could rule the striker out of a possible title decider against Gimnastic. - BBC