Mali coach Tom Saintfiet criticises FIFA and European clubs for forcing the Africa Cup of Nations to switch to a four-year cycle, calling it disrespectful to Africa.
RABAT: Mali coach Tom Saintfiet has criticised the decision to stage the Africa Cup of Nations every four years instead of two.
The Belgian said the move was forced upon Africa by FIFA and European clubs motivated by money.
“I am very shocked with it and very disappointed. It is the pride of African football, with the best players in African football,” Saintfiet told reporters in Rabat.
“To take it away and make it every four years, I could understand if it was a request for any reason from Africa, but it is all instructed by the big people from UEFA, the big clubs in Europe and also FIFA and that makes it so sad.”
He was speaking ahead of Mali’s key Group A game against hosts Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe announced the change last weekend, with the tournament set for a four-year cycle after the 2028 edition.
The Cup of Nations has been held mostly every two years since 1957.
Saintfiet, who has managed several African teams including Gambia, accused European bodies of hypocrisy.
“We fought for so long to be respected, to then listen to Europe to change your history — because this is a history going back 68 years — only because of financial requests from clubs who use the load on players as the excuse while they create a World Cup with 48 teams, a Champions League with no champions,” he said.
He argued that reducing the club calendar, not Africa’s premier tournament, would better protect players.
“If you want to protect players then you play the Champions League with only the champions. You don’t create more competitions with more load. Then you can still play AFCON every two years.”
Saintfiet concluded that the change disrespects African football.
“Africa is the biggest football continent in the world, all the big stars in Europe are Africans, so I think we disrespect (Africa) by going to every four years. I am very sad about that — I hoped that the love for Africa would win over the pressure of Europe.”
