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Joel Embiid’s decision to represent the USA over his native Cameroon has left the African nation “legitimately annoyed”, according to a source at the country’s basketball governing body.
Embiid, the NBA’s reigning Most Valuable Player, confirmed on social media platform X on Friday that he will play for the United States at next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
Cameroon were hopeful the Philadelphia 76ers star would choose the country of his birth, while France also had an interest after the 29-year-old centre received citizenship there last year.
“It’s annoying because many people thought he would choose Cameroon,” a source, who did not want to be named, at the Cameroon Basketball Federation (Fecabasket) told BBC Sport Africa.
“Embiid’s choice was legitimate and the reaction of Cameroonians, who are annoyed, is legitimate at the same time.”
