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Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet has criticised the decision to stage the Africa Cup of Nations every four years instead of two, saying the move was forced on Africa by FIFA and European clubs driven by financial interests.
Speaking to reporters in Rabat on Thursday, Saintfiet said he was “very shocked” and “very disappointed” by the decision, which was announced last weekend by CAF president Patrice Motsepe.
“I am very shocked by it and very disappointed. It is the pride of African football, with the best players in African football,” Saintfiet said ahead of Friday’s Group A match between Mali and hosts Morocco.
“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 the (European governing body) UEFA, the big clubs in Europe, and also FIFA, and that makes it so sad.”
The Africa Cup of Nations has traditionally been held every two years since its first edition in 1957. Under the new plan, the tournament will switch to a four-year cycle after the 2028 edition.
Saintfiet, who previously led Gambia to the quarter-finals of the 2022 AFCON and was appointed Mali coach in August last year, said Africa was being pressured to change its football history to suit European interests.
“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 and a Champions League with no champions,” Saintfiet said.
He stated, “If you want to protect players, then you play the Champions League with only the champions. You don’t create more competition with more load. Then you can still play AFCON every two years.”
Saintfiet also added that African football was being disrespected.
“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 every four years. I am very sad about that – I hoped that the love for Africa would win over the pressure of Europe.”
