Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet has blasted the Confederation of African, CAF, decision to reschedule the Africa Cup of Nations, reports Completesports.com.
Saintfiet said it’s a decision taken by FIFA, UEFA, and European clubs.
Confederation of African Football, CAF, president Patrice Motsepe announced the decision to make the biennial AFCON a quadrennial tournament last weekend.
Motsepe’s announcement has generated mixed reactions across the continent.
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Saintfiet said the decision it’s not in the interest of African football.
“I’m shocked with it, very disappointed,” he told ESPN.
“It’s all instructed by the big people in UEFA, the big clubs from the five leagues, and also by FIFA…and that makes me so sad.
“We fight so long to get respected in Africa, for African people and Africa’s own identity to get respected, but then to listen to Europe to change your history, a 68-year history, for financial reasons…I think we disrespect [Africa] by going to four years.
“I’m sad about that, and I hope the love for Africa would win out over the pressure of Europe.”
By Adeboye Amosu
2 Comments
I can’t agree any better with Mali Coach, Tom Saintfiet. Motsepe dropped the ball and danced to the whims of UEFA and the rich football clubs in Europe by agreeing to this damaging call to shift Afcon to every 4 years event against the historical biennial status of Afcon.
Motsepe need to step back that agreement because it is not in the interest of African football. If it ain’t broke, do not try to fix it!
Don’t mind caf. They want to enjoy more privileges at the helm of affairs of top football bodies.
What’s the stress in gathering 24 teams every 2 years for only a month or better put, 2 months in every 4 years?
African nations league yearly my foot with only very few international windows per year.
Now, records set will not easily be broken again. For example, Egypt’s straight triple wins between 2006 and 2010 with the new arrangement will take 12 years instead of 6 or even 4 if the inaugural year is counted first.
Who will score goals in 6 consecutive afcons again after Salah who will make it 7 if Egypt qualifies for 2027 edition.
Those records will now be eternal.
Rubbish.