Atletico Madrid have hit back at Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu with a scathing statement registering the club’s “disgust” at how the Catalans and Antoine Griezmann have conducted themselves.

Bartomeu revealed on Friday that talks had been held between Barca and Atletico directors over the possible signing of the France striker.

Griezmann has already informed his current club that he will not be returning for 2019-20, with Barca odds-on to complete a deal this summer.

But far from the optimistic outlook shared by Bartomeu in his press conference, Atletico released a communique hours later slamming their rivals’ behaviour throughout the Griezmann saga and ordering the forward to report for pre-season training.

“On May 14 Antoine Griezmann told Miguel Angel Gil, Diego Simeone and Andrea Berta of his decision to leave the club at the end of the season. In the days following that meeting Atletico were made aware that Barcelona and the player had reached a deal back in March, just after the second leg of our Champions League game against Juventus, and that they had been negotiating the terms of the deal since mid-February,” the statement claims.

“With regards to President Bartomeu’s declarations today, we want to make clear that it is true a meeting took place yesterday between Miguel Angel Gil and Barcelona CEO Oscar Grau, at Barcelona’s request; and that in said meeting Mr Grau made known his intention to, once the release clause in Antoine Griezmann’s contract has been modified from €200 to €120 million, ask for a delay in the payment of the above amount in the clause, valid from July 1.

“Obviously Atletico Madrid’s answer was negative, understanding that both Barcelona and the player have disrespected Atletico Madrid and all their fans.

“As a consequence, today Atletico Madrid have ordered the player, his sister in her capacity as his agent and his lawyer, that Antoine Griezmann must present himself on Sunday at the club to begin pre-season with the rest of his team-mates, in compliance with his contractual obligations.

“By way of this statement Atletico Madrid wish to express their deepest disgust at the behaviour of both parties, especially Barcelona, for having induced a player to break his contract with Atletico Madrid at a point in the season where the club was fighting not just for the Champions League against Juventus, but also La Liga itself against none other than Barcelona.”

Cameroon coach Clarence Seedorf wants forward Karl Toko Ekambi to rediscover his La Liga form when they meet Nigeria on Saturday in an Africa Cup of Nations last-16 blockbuster in Egypt.

Ekambi was the leading Villarreal scorer in the Spanish top flight last season with 10 goals, but has failed to find the net for the Indomitable Lions in three group matches.

Seedorf tried various attack combinations, all including Ekambi, but after a 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau, the defending champions were held to 0-0 draws by Ghana and Benin.

Former Dutch star Seedorf deflected media criticism away from his misfiring forwards, saying: “Sometimes teams do not score for weeks and forwards do not score for months.

“Karl and the other forwards have to improve a few details, be smarter and create more chances,” added the four-time Uefa Champions League winner.

“We pushed forward in each group game, we introduced attacking players off the bench, but we dare not try crazy stuff. We have to respect our opponents.”

Here, AFP Sport looks at the Saturday matches with the clash of Cameroon and Nigeria in Alexandria too close to call, while hosts Egypt are expected to defeat South Africa in Cairo.

CAMEROON V NIGERIA

In 2004, the last time Cameroon were Cup of Nations defending champions, they were eliminated in the first knockout round by Nigeria.

The great rivals have met six times in the biennial tournament, including three finals that Cameroon won, one after a penalty shootout.

Only once did more than one goal separate the sides and the latest episode at the 20 000-seat Alexandria Stadium looks evenly balanced.

After single-goal victories over Burundi and Guinea, Nigeria came a cropper against minnows Madagascar, losing 2-0 to finish second in the group and get tougher last-16 opponents.

Captain and former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel put a positive spin on the setback, saying: “It is better this (losing) happened now than in the knockout stages.”

EGYPT V SOUTH AFRICA

Unlike the showdown between Cameroon and Nigeria, this match appears easy to call with record seven-time champions Egypt overwhelming favourites to defeat poorly performing South Africa.

While the Pharaohs won all three group games without conceding a goal, Bafana Bafana sneaked into the last 16 as the lowest of the best four third-place qualifiers.

Prolific Liverpool scorer Mohamed Salah and Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan have been constant threats in attack for Egypt while Aston Villa right-back Ahmed Elmohamady netted twice.

In stark contrast, South Africa did not have a single goal attempt on target in losses against the Ivory Coast and Morocco.

But South Africa coach Stuart Baxter sees a glimmer of hope, telling reporters: “If we can improve our attacking game by 10 to 15 percent, we will give Egypt problems.”

Benin stunned Morocco 4-1 on penalties following a 1-1 stalemate in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Round of 16 match at the Al Salam Stadium in Egypt on Friday night.

The victory saw the Squirrels advance to the quarterfinals for the first time, while the Atlas Lions bowed out of the tournament.

The Atlas Lions pressed the Squirrels from the start with and they nearly grabbed an early goal through Youssef En-Nesyri.

The Spain-based striker’s header was well-saved by Benin goalkeeper Owolabi Saturnin Allagbe six minutes into the encounter.

Benin grew into the match and they had a chance to break the deadlock seven minutes before the half-hour mark.

However, Morocco keeper Youssouf Bounou was well-positioned to deny Benin midfielder Mickael Pote, who has netted twice in the tournament.

The Atlas Lions then took control of the match, but Allagbe was having a good match as he made a good save to deny Hakim Ziyech.

Benin then stood firm at the back and the score was 0-0 t the interval.

The Squirrels continued to frustrate the Atlas Lions after the restart and they took a surprise lead through Moise Adilehou.

The Greece-based defender scored with a right-footed shot which beat Bounou to make it 1-0 to Benin eight minutes after the restart.

Morocco head coach Herve Renard reacted by introducing Soufal Boufal, who is on the books of English side Southampton FC.

The Atlas Lions piled pressure on the Benin defence and they managed to grab a late equalising goal following a mistake by Jordan Adeoti.

The France-based midfielder lost possession to Mbark Boussoufa, who then set-up En-Neysri and the striker beat Allagbe with a low shot to make it 1-1 with 15 minutes left.

The momentum was with the Atlas Lions and they were awarded a late penalty after Achraf Hakimi fouled by Stephane Sessegnon in stoppage time.

Ajax Amsterdam playmaker Ziyech stepped up and he hit the upright and the encounter ended in a 1-1 draw in regulation time and extra-time followed.

Benin suffered a blow six minutes into the first-half of extra-time as they were reduced to 10 players after Abdou Khaled Adenon was sent off after receiving his second yellow card.

However, Michel Dussuyer’s charges stood firm at the back and ultimately, the match ended in a 1-1 draw and a penalty shootout followed.

Benin went on to win 4-1 on penalties with Allagbe denying En-Nesyri from the spot-kick.

Morocco (0) 1 (En-Nesyri75′)

Benin (0) 1 (Adilehou 53′)

Morocco: Bounou, Dirar (Mazraoui 74′), Da Costa, Saiss, Hakimi, El Ahmadi (Fajr 107′), Boussoufa, Amrabat (Idrissi 88′), Belhanda (Boufal 59′), Ziyech, En-Nesyri.

Benin: Allagbe, Adilehou, Adénon, Verdon, Imorou, Adeoti, Mama, Sessegnon, Dossou (Tidjani 86′), Soukou (Djigla 69′), Pote (D’Almeida 108′).