With Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Bouna Sarr, FC Bayern is fielding two of its professionals for the African continental championship. Both are still in the quarter-finals and can hope to win the trophy, but would also be unavailable to the Munich side next weekend against RB Leipzig if they progress.
They do not play a major role for the record champions from Munich, but they are important for their national teams. Choupo-Moting is expected to score goals for hosts Cameroon on their way to the title, but the 32-year-old has not managed to do so so far. However, it must be remembered that these are Choupo-Moting’s first games after a long break due to a corona infection. The attacker last played for FC Bayern on 19 November in a surprising 1-2 defeat at FC Augsburg. At the Africa Cup, he has played in all four games so far: twice in the starting eleven, when he was substituted after just under an hour, and twice as a wild card for around 20 minutes. His team will go into the quarter-final against Gambia as favourites. Whether it is enough for the title could also depend on Choupo-Moting, who would have to continue his strong form from the start of the season. He has scored three goals in the Bundesliga, one in the Champions League and four in the first round of the Cup. A good record, considering his limited playing time as Robert Lewandowski’s back-up.
Sarr is a regular for Senegal
Even less in demand is Bouna Sarr, who is only the number 3 at FC Bayern as a right-back behind Benjamin Pavard and Josip Stanisic and has made nine – mostly short – appearances this season. It is a completely different story for Senegal, for whose national team the 29-year-old only decided last year and for whom he is now a regular. Sarr was in the starting eleven in all four games and played through all but one substitution in the closing minutes. He played a more offensive role than at FC Bayern, but like Choupo-Moting, he has yet to score. Sarr’s team are also favourites against Equatorial Guinea in the quarter-finals. The two Munich players could only meet in a direct duel in the final. A win at the Africa Cup would not change their status at FC Bayern – the Munich team would even gladly give Sarr away – but both would certainly like to have the title on their CVs.
