Benoit Assou-Ekotto has decided to lay to rest all speculations regarding his reasons for headbutting fellow team-mate Benjamin Moukandjo in the 4-0 defeat to Croatia on June 18.

Assou Ekotto-Moukandjo
Photo: © Screen Capture

Assou-Ekotto who was involved in an angry exchange with his team-mate towards the end of Wednesday’s game in Manaus has apologized for his behaviour; providing details on why he acted as such. Below is what Assou-Ekotto told L’Equipe: “It all started with the first match against Mexico (a 1-0 defeat). Moukandjo was on my flank; he tried to dribble past two opponents and lost the ball. I told him he should pass it to me. He replied I was right. The same situation happened against Croatia again. “Everyone can make a mistake. But when I told him again, he replied: ‘Get off my back!’ I could not accept his reaction. There was so much frustration in that match. Now people take me for an idiot. I could not control my temper. If the score was 0-0, it would have not happened. “When we went back to the changing-room, Samuel Eto’o talked to me, but I was so angry that I didn’t admit I was wrong. The next day, we met with Moukandjo again during breakfast and we shook hands. “That kind of thing can happen when a team doesn’t work right. I didn’t think. Millions of people were watching at the match, and a lot of kids. I have not been threatened with a ban from the group. I am a human being and I can get upset just like anyone.”