The Africa Cup of Nations has become an afterthought in the global football calendar, relegated to the fringes by the insatiable appetite for more games. The scheduling conundrums that have plagued the tournament since 2012 – from Libya to South Africa, and then back again to Egypt and Cameroon – only serve to underscore its precarious status.
The Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, has been vocal about his vision of an African super league, but it remains a moot point. Instead, we are left with a hastily assembled 20-team tournament in 2023, with clubs releasing players for just six days before the competition kicks off. The lack of commitment from European clubs is staggering, with many opting to prioritize their Champions League fixtures.
The compromise has been a December/January window, which some have dubbed the "2025 Cup of Nations". It's a stopgap solution that allows African nations to field teams without conflicting with European club schedules. However, it comes at a cost – Premier League clubs will be severely impacted, with some potentially having as many as seven players absent from the tournament.
The narrative surrounding the Africa Cup of Nations has always revolved around its relevance to the global football landscape. In recent years, however, it's been relegated to secondary status. With Fifa's World Cup expansion and the increasing demands on the calendar, African nations are struggling to find space for their flagship tournament.
Patrice Motsepe, the South African president of Caf, has tried to rally support from his European counterparts, but Infantino's policies have done little to alleviate Africa's concerns. The Fifa chief's words about "Africa" seem hollow when juxtaposed with the realities on the ground.
The Africa Cup of Nations is no longer a priority for Fifa or European clubs. Its place in the global football calendar has been usurped by the more lucrative Champions League and World Cup. As the tournament continues to struggle, it remains to be seen whether African nations can find a way to reclaim its status as a major international football event.
The Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, has been vocal about his vision of an African super league, but it remains a moot point. Instead, we are left with a hastily assembled 20-team tournament in 2023, with clubs releasing players for just six days before the competition kicks off. The lack of commitment from European clubs is staggering, with many opting to prioritize their Champions League fixtures.
The compromise has been a December/January window, which some have dubbed the "2025 Cup of Nations". It's a stopgap solution that allows African nations to field teams without conflicting with European club schedules. However, it comes at a cost – Premier League clubs will be severely impacted, with some potentially having as many as seven players absent from the tournament.
The narrative surrounding the Africa Cup of Nations has always revolved around its relevance to the global football landscape. In recent years, however, it's been relegated to secondary status. With Fifa's World Cup expansion and the increasing demands on the calendar, African nations are struggling to find space for their flagship tournament.
Patrice Motsepe, the South African president of Caf, has tried to rally support from his European counterparts, but Infantino's policies have done little to alleviate Africa's concerns. The Fifa chief's words about "Africa" seem hollow when juxtaposed with the realities on the ground.
The Africa Cup of Nations is no longer a priority for Fifa or European clubs. Its place in the global football calendar has been usurped by the more lucrative Champions League and World Cup. As the tournament continues to struggle, it remains to be seen whether African nations can find a way to reclaim its status as a major international football event.
? i mean african countries r already struggling 2 make ends meet, hosting this tournament would b such a huge burden 
...and its not like they have anything else 2 offer other than football 
...i dont think fifa should be prioritizing the champs league over africa's football interests tho 
...maybe they shd find a way 2 make it more financially viable 4 african teams? or at least give them more notice so they can plan ahead? 
i mean patrice motsepe is tryna rally support but infantinos words r all like "i care bout u africa" but u can tell hes just phoning it in lol 
. It's crazy how Fifa has been playing around with the scheduling for years and now we're seeing the consequences. The whole "2025 Cup of Nations" thing just feels like a Band-Aid solution to me, but I'm not sure it'll stick. 
. And don't even get me started on the European clubs - they're all about that Champions League life and barely even care about their African counterparts 
.
. The Fifa president's words are all well and good, but when push comes to shove, he's not exactly backing up his own rhetoric 
. Maybe that means re-evaluating the calendar or finding ways for European clubs to accommodate African teams without sacrificing their own schedules 
. Whatever it is, something needs to change because right now, the tournament feels like an afterthought 
.
. It's like they're always playing second fiddle to Europe's games. I get that the Champions League and World Cup are big deals, but can't we make space for all tournaments? It's not fair that they have to release players just six days before the competition starts 
. I think Patrice Motsepe is trying his best, but it's like no one cares about Africa's football team 
. Maybe we can come up with some creative solutions, like playing during a less busy time or finding more sponsors? The possibilities are endless! 
africa cup of nations deserves better, we need to see more commitment from european clubs 
.
how are they gonna make it relevant again? 
patrice motsepe's trying to rally support but it's all just talk 
someone needs to do something 
. Meanwhile, the World Cup keeps getting more games and more attention. It's like they're trying to squeeze Africa into a corner and forget about it 
. It's time for Africa to stop begging and start demanding its place in the global football calendar 
. I wish FIFA would take Africa's concerns more seriously and figure out a way to make the tournament more attractive again 
. We need more commitment from European clubs and FIFA needs to step up its game 
They're just trying to cram more games in, but it's not like anyone's actually invested in making it work. The European clubs are always pulling out at the last minute, leaving those African teams to scramble for players. It's a mess, plain and simple.
The Premier League clubs are going to be all over it when those African teams show up, and we're supposed to just be excited about... what, again? 
.
️ i mean, patrice motsepe tried to make some noise but it's hard to take seriously when the big cheeses like infantino are all about african super league and whatnot 
meanwhile, african nations are still fighting for a spot in the calendar 
They're like 5% of global club competitions now and only 0.2% of global TV viewership 
. And don't even get me started on the scheduling - it's a mess! 
. Africa needs a bigger platform to showcase its talent and football culture. I'm all for the European clubs making some sacrifices, but this feels like a permanent solution rather than one-time compromise 
It's time for Fifa to step up and show some love 
to the Africa Cup, or risk losing its relevance forever 