US EditionMali Coach Saintfiet Hits Out at European Clubs, FIFA over AFCON Changes
Mali coach Tom Saintfiet claims UEFA and FIFA pushed for AFCON's four-year cycle to protect European clubs' financial interests, not African demands, disrupting a 68-year tradition.
- On Thursday, Mali coach Tom Saintfiet railed against the decision to stage the Africa Cup of Nations every four years, blaming UEFA, major European clubs and FIFA for forcing the change.
- Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe announced the Cup would be held every four years after the planned 2028 edition, formalising a shift from the previous two-year cycle.
- Highlighting a perceived double standard, Tom Saintfiet criticised clubs for citing player load while creating a 48-team World Cup and expanded Champions League, saying reducing AFCON's frequency disrespects Africa.
- Mali's coach, appointed in August last year, will lead the team into a key Group A match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Friday and said he was very shocked and disappointed by the decision.
- Proposing an alternative, Tom Saintfiet said AFCON every two years should continue while trimming club competitions and limiting Champions League entrants to champions to protect players.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Mali national football team coach Tom Saintfiet is critical of the decision to move the African Cup of Nations to a four-year cycle instead of two. Saintfiet believes the decision by the Confederation of African Football is a result of pressure from FIFA and European clubs.
Mali coach hits out at European clubs, FIFA over AFCON format change
Mali coach Tom Saintfiet on Thursday railed against the decision to play the Africa Cup of Nations every four years instead of two, insisting the move was forced upon the continent by FIFA and European clubs motivated by money.
It is a real revolution and a paved stone in the pond launched by South African Patrice Motsepe, the president of the CAF, the African Confederation of Football. Saturday, on the eve of the launch of the 2025 edition in Morocco, the leader announced that the African Cup of Nations will now compete every four years and no longer every two years from 2028. A change aimed at harmonizing the world football calendar where competitions multiply.A chan…
'We listened to Europe to change our history' - Mali coach launches stinging attack on FIFA-led AFCON changes
Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet has launched a stinging attack on the CAF for making AFCON a quadrennial format, but South Africa head coach Hugo Broos supported the new format.
African Cup of Nations shifts to 4-year cycle
The African Cup of Nations will switch to a four-year cycle from 2028, aligning it with European sporting calendars after years of complaints from clubs whose players compete in the tournament.Launched in 1957 with just three teams — Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan — the tournament is currently held biennially. Patrice Motsepe, the South African billionaire who leads the Confederation of African Football, said the aim was to avoid fixture conflicts b…
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