Cameroon national team coach Mark Bryce said Ekitic would not be recruited because he regarded Cameroon as his second choice.
23-year-old Ekitic joined Liverpool this summer. He has dual nationalities between France and Cameroon and has not participated in the adult national team competition yet. Ekitic was eliminated when the French national team announced the new roster, so the media wanted to know whether the Cameroonian national team would call Ekitic first.
Cameroon coach Mark Bryce said: "I have not contacted Ekitic. He tried every effort to play for the French national team, but this time he did not succeed. And should Cameroon be his second choice now? I don't need to be the second choice. This decision has nothing to do with whether Ekitic is a good player, as I said, which means he should not be here." Coach Mark Bryce's words show that he hopes to recruit players who are completely willing to play for the Cameroon national team, rather than treating Cameroon as an alternative player, and must have loyalty, passion and a sense of belonging. At least during Mark Bryce's coaching Cameroon national team, they won't open their doors to Ekitic.