The Belgian coach of the Malian national football team, Tom Saintfiet, launched a scathing and unprecedented attack on the proposed decision to hold the Africa Cup of Nations every four years instead of the usual two-year system, considering that this step represents submission to the dictates of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) and the major European clubs that put financial interests above the consideration of the history of the African continent.
In press statements he made in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, before the anticipated match between Mali and Morocco, Sanfeit expressed his deep shock, saying: “I am in a state of great shock and my disappointment is indescribable. It (the Africa Cup of Nations) is the pride of African football, bringing together the best players on the continent, and to have its identity taken from us in this way is extremely sad.”.
Background of the conflict and history of the tournament
Sanfeit's comments come at a very sensitive time, as Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), recently announced that the tournament will be held every four years after the 2028 edition. The Africa Cup of Nations is a historical legacy for the continent, having been held every two years since its first edition in 1957. This system has always been the main outlet for developing sports infrastructure in African countries and giving local and professional players the opportunity to meet regularly, which distinguishes African football from its European counterpart.
Accusations of double standards
The Belgian coach didn't just express his disappointment; he directly accused international football organizations of double standards. He explained, "We fought hard to earn respect, and then we listen to Europe to change our 68-year history. The excuse is fixture congestion, while they themselves are creating a 48-team World Cup and a new Champions League format with more matches.".
Sanviet believes that European clubs use the pretext of "protecting players" to prevent their African stars from representing their national teams, while simultaneously increasing the number of matches in their domestic competitions to boost revenue. He added, "If you truly want to protect players, then hold the Champions League only for champions, instead of creating more tournaments and more pressure.".
Extensive experience supports the opinion
Tom Saintfiet (52 years old) bases his opinion on extensive field experience in the African jungles, where he is considered one of the European coaches most familiar with the conditions of football on the continent. He has previously coached several national teams, including Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Malawi, and Togo, and achieved a remarkable feat with Gambia, leading them to the quarterfinals of the 2022 edition, before taking over Mali last August.
The impact of the decision on the future of African football
Observers fear that switching the tournament to a four-year cycle will diminish the focus on developing national teams during the extended periods between competitions and reduce opportunities for local players to gain international experience. Sanviet concluded bitterly, “Africa is the world’s greatest footballing continent in terms of talent, and all the big stars in Europe are of African descent, so I think we are being insulted by making the tournament every four years. I had hoped that the love for Africa and its history would prevail over the pressure of money and European influence.”.
