How To Improve The Africa Cup Of Nations

*** This article was first published in February 2023, before any significant developments on the African and European footballing calendars since then *** 

The smartest decision CAF has made this century – or last decade to be specific – was moving the Africa Cup of Nations from January to June/July.

The scheduling before proved to be menacing to Europe’s leagues, whether they were the prestigious ones or otherwise. This was understandable, considering how the continent’s best players were now plying their trade up north. Having to let go of these valuable individuals so that they could go do international duty in the demanding period during and after the festive season regularly derailed a team’s campaign, so the grumblings of discontent were justified.

Up until the 2000s, African leagues ran from February until November and December, so having AFCONs take place when they did was perfectly sensible. However, it was only a matter of time before many local football associations – not all – aligned their campaigns with the accepted global football calendar of August-to-May. Still, far too many league seasons are taking place during the calendar year, which still causes awkwardness, though this was alleviated when CAF also smartly switched the Champions League and Confederations Cup competitions to the spring-until-winter slot.

Weather is important, because unlike Europe, playing football between October and February is a challenge across Africa, when heat is at its most spiteful, which does present a unique challenge. Beyond that, one does not see any other reason why the continental football timetable will line up with the globe.

Considering the abovementioned points, things appear to be rosy between Africa’s showpiece event and all the European club competitions as they go hand-in-hand for a change. If anything, the only real “challenge” now is players selected to take part in any Africa Cup of Nations head into the tournament being tired after the end of the gruelling club season. This applies to a player who was in the Premier Soccer League or did his work in La Liga. Ironic, isn’t it? Before, it was noticeable how players based abroad would start a January AFCON in fine fettle, simply because they were halfway through their campaign with the necessary mileage on the clock. The locals, on the other hand, were either coming off a long year or were in the pre-season stage of preparations, clearly off the pace, compounded by the sweltering conditions wherever the tournament was being hosted.

Truthfully, the only other noticeable characteristic is that the quality of the football is not of the high standard expected of an international tournament. There are many reasons why this is so, and to delve into them would require encyclopedia-level analysis. African nations are producing more European-standard players than ever before. It does appear that a lot of them are more driven to perform at their very best for their employers than by being motivated and inspired by national pride. This all gives the tournament an incidental run-off-the-mill feel instead of the blockbuster that it should be.

African football watchers, more or less, are probably more interested in what is happening in Serie A, Premier League, La Liga and Ligue 1 than what is happening across the border and in select regions. The invariable here is standard and quality, with the fortunes of African players in the glitzy leagues of more interest to them than perhaps what eg. Kwame Peprah is up to in South Africa as far as a Ghanaian football fan is interested.

The only tangible but highly unrealistic solution to rejuvenate AFCON is to keep our players south of the Mediterranean Sea. Unfortunately, no one has the financial might to fight off Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Liverpool or PSG to hang onto a promising player. In fact, it’s more beneficial to cash in on these players once the giants come calling for them. Money is the only drawback and there is no way around it except a huge, long-term influx into the sport from Cape Town to Cairo. Oh, and world-class, non-self-serving administration of the Beautiful Game.

Also, it would not hurt if the heroics of Morocco at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar are repeated by their African counterparts REGULARLY. There is no doubt that they will be the most-watched team out in the Ivory Coast when July rolls around…