Tom Saintfiet, the head coach of Mali, criticized the decision to hold the Africa Cup of Nations every four years rather than every two, claiming that FIFA and European clubs were compelled to do so because of financial constraints.
“I’m very shocked and disappointed with it. The Belgian praised the best players in African football ahead of Friday’s AFCON match between Mali and Morocco in Rabat. “It is the pride of African football.
“To take it away and replace it every four years, I could understand if it was a request from Africa,” said one spokesman, “but it is all being ordered by the big players from (European governing body) UEFA, the big clubs in Europe, and also FIFA, and that is so sad.”
Saintfiet, 52, has oversaw numerous African national teams, including Gambia, who reached the 2022 Cup of Nations quarter-finals.
On Friday, Mali will take on the current AFCON opponents in a crucial Group A match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium under the direction of Heine. He was appointed by Mali in August of last year.
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Since its first edition in 1957, the Confederation of African Football (CNA) has almost always held the tournament twice annually, but Patrice Motsepe, president, announced last weekend that it would continue to take place every four years after a planned 2028 competition.
Because of financial demands from clubs that use the burden of players as an excuse to create a World Cup with 48 teams and a Champions League without no champions, Saintfiet said, “We fought for so long to be respected, to then listen to Europe to change your history.”
He made a joke that, “If you don’t get relegated in England, you almost end up in Europe.”
“You play the Champions League with only the champions if you want to protect players.” You don’t add more workload to your competitions. Then, you can still participate in AFCON every two years.
Because “Africa is the biggest football continent in the world,” I believe we disrespect it by visiting every four years because all of the world’s top footballers are African.
I regret that very much because I hoped that European pressure would be tempered by the love for Africa.
Source: Channels TV
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