Will be a relief for us when the change is effected.
[article]Dramatic changes to Africa's top competition now await rubber-stamping by the Confederation of African Football's (Caf) executive committee after recommendations made at a symposium in Morocco on Wednesday.
The showpiece Africa Cup of Nations finals is set to be expanded and its contentious timing changed, but its frequency will remain every two years.
The tournament is likely to be moved to June and July, instead of January and February, and will increase from 16 to 24 teams.
The two annual club competitions - the African Champions League and African Confederation Cup - are likely to run from August to May rather than inside a calendar year, as has been done for decades.
Changes to refereeing structures, coaching standards and medical preparedness were also recommended.
Caf's executive committee meet in Rabat on Thursday and are expected to formalise all the major recommendations.
"From a sporting perspective, it will allow more opportunity for footballers across the continent," said Nigerian Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick, a Caf executive committee member, of the expansion.
The dogged insistence to keep the Nations Cup in January, which has often infuriated European clubs since they lose their African players at a crucial time of the season, could soon be a thing of the past.
But Africa's flagship sporting event will still be played every two years as the tournament is a leading source of revenue for Caf, who would lose half of that money should the finals be played every four years, as some proposed.
There was no opposition to the change of the timing of the finals which will come as music to the ears of African players based at European clubs, who are regularly involved in a club-versus-country row every two years.
The increase in the number of finalists is a bid to increase marketing and TV revenue, talking a leaf out of the book of Uefa whose European Championship increased in size in 2016.
"It will increase revenue for Caf and we can triple our income," added Pinnick. "It will also force more infrastructure development."
The symposium also recommended that requirements for hosting the Nations Cup must be increased, particularly around the issue of pitches and hotels, whose poor quality has drawn heavy criticism at recent finals.
This year's expansion of the number of clubs in the Champions League and Confederation Cup has meant the top teams in Africa have been forced to play group matches between May and July.
Usually, many of these sides would be enjoying end-of-season holidays prior to preparing for a new campaign.
The criticism of the dates has led to the recommendation that the Champions League and Confederation Cup will run from August to May - possibly as early as next year.
Similar to the European Champions League, the group phase would be finished by the end of year to allow the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals to be completed by May.[/article]
[article]The African Cup of Nations (AFCON), CAF’s biggest competition, is set for expansion from the current 16 to 24 teams, as officials also mull the possibility of shifting the biennial event from January to July.
A working committee including national team’s coaches, former players and technical experts in the ongoing CAF symposium in Rabat agreed on the recommendations on Monday.
The CAF Executive Committee will vote to have it formalized on Thursday, pending the official announcement during the Extraordinary Congress on Friday.
The committee also agreed to retain the current two-year cycle for AFCON, which happens in an odd year to avoid clashing with the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European championships.
According to the committee, the decision is based on increasing the competition revenues and enhancing its inclusivity.
Citizen Digital has learnt former Ghana international Abedi Pele, the father of the Black Stars duo Jordan Ayew and Andre Ayew, was among the stakeholders who championed for a shift to a four-year cycle before his proposal was shot down.
According to Pele, African players find it difficult to balance national and club duty loyalty when continental championships come around much often.
Pele cited comments from English Premier League (EPL) managers to advocate for the failed proposal, including Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho, Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp, and Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger.
Details of when the change will be effected are yet to be furnished, and will be made public after a CAF technical committee concludes polishing on the development.
Those opposed to an eight-team expansion fear the tournament could lose its competitiveness, while proponents argue it gives an opportunity for teams with lesser pedigree to compete in the finals.
The proposal comes barely months after FIFA passed an increase of World Cup size to 48 teams.
This means only 30 countries would be locked out of every AFCON edition. The burden of host nation also increases, with more delegations to fend for increasing.
The Qualifiers’ format will also have to be amended once the resolution is made.
Differences in climatic conditions has emerged key in triggering a change in AFCON dates to June and/or July as most of the African countries especially in the East and West experience heavy rainfalls while the continent’s Northern parts experience scorching heat at the time.[/article]
[article]Dramatic changes to Africa's top competition now await rubber-stamping by the Confederation of African Football's (Caf) executive committee after recommendations made at a symposium in Morocco on Wednesday.
The showpiece Africa Cup of Nations finals is set to be expanded and its contentious timing changed, but its frequency will remain every two years.
The tournament is likely to be moved to June and July, instead of January and February, and will increase from 16 to 24 teams.
The two annual club competitions - the African Champions League and African Confederation Cup - are likely to run from August to May rather than inside a calendar year, as has been done for decades.
Changes to refereeing structures, coaching standards and medical preparedness were also recommended.
Caf's executive committee meet in Rabat on Thursday and are expected to formalise all the major recommendations.
"From a sporting perspective, it will allow more opportunity for footballers across the continent," said Nigerian Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick, a Caf executive committee member, of the expansion.
The dogged insistence to keep the Nations Cup in January, which has often infuriated European clubs since they lose their African players at a crucial time of the season, could soon be a thing of the past.
But Africa's flagship sporting event will still be played every two years as the tournament is a leading source of revenue for Caf, who would lose half of that money should the finals be played every four years, as some proposed.
There was no opposition to the change of the timing of the finals which will come as music to the ears of African players based at European clubs, who are regularly involved in a club-versus-country row every two years.
The increase in the number of finalists is a bid to increase marketing and TV revenue, talking a leaf out of the book of Uefa whose European Championship increased in size in 2016.
"It will increase revenue for Caf and we can triple our income," added Pinnick. "It will also force more infrastructure development."
The symposium also recommended that requirements for hosting the Nations Cup must be increased, particularly around the issue of pitches and hotels, whose poor quality has drawn heavy criticism at recent finals.
This year's expansion of the number of clubs in the Champions League and Confederation Cup has meant the top teams in Africa have been forced to play group matches between May and July.
Usually, many of these sides would be enjoying end-of-season holidays prior to preparing for a new campaign.
The criticism of the dates has led to the recommendation that the Champions League and Confederation Cup will run from August to May - possibly as early as next year.
Similar to the European Champions League, the group phase would be finished by the end of year to allow the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals to be completed by May.[/article]
[article]The African Cup of Nations (AFCON), CAF’s biggest competition, is set for expansion from the current 16 to 24 teams, as officials also mull the possibility of shifting the biennial event from January to July.
A working committee including national team’s coaches, former players and technical experts in the ongoing CAF symposium in Rabat agreed on the recommendations on Monday.
The CAF Executive Committee will vote to have it formalized on Thursday, pending the official announcement during the Extraordinary Congress on Friday.
The committee also agreed to retain the current two-year cycle for AFCON, which happens in an odd year to avoid clashing with the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European championships.
According to the committee, the decision is based on increasing the competition revenues and enhancing its inclusivity.
Citizen Digital has learnt former Ghana international Abedi Pele, the father of the Black Stars duo Jordan Ayew and Andre Ayew, was among the stakeholders who championed for a shift to a four-year cycle before his proposal was shot down.
According to Pele, African players find it difficult to balance national and club duty loyalty when continental championships come around much often.
Pele cited comments from English Premier League (EPL) managers to advocate for the failed proposal, including Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho, Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp, and Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger.
Details of when the change will be effected are yet to be furnished, and will be made public after a CAF technical committee concludes polishing on the development.
Those opposed to an eight-team expansion fear the tournament could lose its competitiveness, while proponents argue it gives an opportunity for teams with lesser pedigree to compete in the finals.
The proposal comes barely months after FIFA passed an increase of World Cup size to 48 teams.
This means only 30 countries would be locked out of every AFCON edition. The burden of host nation also increases, with more delegations to fend for increasing.
The Qualifiers’ format will also have to be amended once the resolution is made.
Differences in climatic conditions has emerged key in triggering a change in AFCON dates to June and/or July as most of the African countries especially in the East and West experience heavy rainfalls while the continent’s Northern parts experience scorching heat at the time.[/article]
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