Mali coach Jean Francois Jodar said on Monday that he would not allow star striker Fredric Kanoute to travel to Togo for the African Footballer of the Year award ceremony if the Eagles qualify for the second round. The ceremony has been set for Friday in the Togolese capital, which means it will be held only two days before the quarter-final fixtures in the African Cup of Nations that are being held in neighboring Ghana. Jodar made it clear that he would be risking the progress of his team if he lets Kanoute attend the ceremony. "If Kanoute goes and Mali lose, then I will be held responsible," the French boss told a press conference. Kanoute is in contention for the award, along with Ghana's Michael Essien and Ivory Coast skipper Didier Drogba, who won it last year. Jodar hit out at CAF officials for organizing the event at that time. "It is crazy to organize a function in the middle of the tournament like this. "If the event was held in Accra we would let him go for the night, but to have to travel to Togo, attend the ceremony and then fly back again disrupts our preparations and tires out the player," Jodar added. Mali only need a draw against Ivory Coast in their final Group B game on Tuesday to advance to the quarter finals. They are currently in second place with four points from two games.
