The Africa Cup of Nations has become an afterthought, relegated to the fringes of international football. The tournament's scheduling woes are a symptom of a broader issue: the increasing greed of European clubs and their owners, who demand more and more from African players.
Fifa's president Gianni Infantino has touted his commitment to African football, but his actions speak louder than his words. A proposed $100m 20-team African super league was met with widespread criticism, and its one-off iteration in 2023 was a meager consolation prize.
The traditional route of clubs releasing players for the Cup of Nations is no longer viable due to Fifa's regulations allowing only one international tournament per year. In World Cup years, European clubs are within their rights to refuse to let players go, further exacerbating the problem.
To accommodate African football, a compromise was reached on a December/January competition – essentially a 2025 tournament. This makeshift arrangement allows for a limited number of teams to participate while avoiding direct conflict with European leagues' winter breaks.
The impact on Premier League clubs is evident, with some potentially losing up to seven players due to commitments at the Cup of Nations. Liverpool and Chelsea will have the most available players, but even they face challenges with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Amad Diallo representing Egypt and Côte d'Ivoire respectively.
West Ham United's attack will be severely depleted without Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Senegal's El Hadji Malick Diouf, while Everton and Crystal Palace will miss the creativity of Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur, Bournemouth, and Brighton will still have some notable African players available.
Despite Infantino's empty rhetoric, African football remains at the periphery of international competitions. The scheduling woes are a symptom of a deeper issue: the insatiable hunger for profit and the disregard for traditional rivalries and competitions that define the beautiful game.
Fifa's president Gianni Infantino has touted his commitment to African football, but his actions speak louder than his words. A proposed $100m 20-team African super league was met with widespread criticism, and its one-off iteration in 2023 was a meager consolation prize.
The traditional route of clubs releasing players for the Cup of Nations is no longer viable due to Fifa's regulations allowing only one international tournament per year. In World Cup years, European clubs are within their rights to refuse to let players go, further exacerbating the problem.
To accommodate African football, a compromise was reached on a December/January competition – essentially a 2025 tournament. This makeshift arrangement allows for a limited number of teams to participate while avoiding direct conflict with European leagues' winter breaks.
The impact on Premier League clubs is evident, with some potentially losing up to seven players due to commitments at the Cup of Nations. Liverpool and Chelsea will have the most available players, but even they face challenges with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Amad Diallo representing Egypt and Côte d'Ivoire respectively.
West Ham United's attack will be severely depleted without Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Senegal's El Hadji Malick Diouf, while Everton and Crystal Palace will miss the creativity of Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur, Bournemouth, and Brighton will still have some notable African players available.
Despite Infantino's empty rhetoric, African football remains at the periphery of international competitions. The scheduling woes are a symptom of a deeper issue: the insatiable hunger for profit and the disregard for traditional rivalries and competitions that define the beautiful game.
...I mean, it's not even on the same level as other tournaments anymore. The scheduling issues are a total shame 
. It's like Fifa is just looking out for those greedy European clubs and their owners 
. I get that they want to make money, but can't we prioritize African football for once? 
...but at the same time, it's like you're taking away a part of Africa's identity 
. And what's with the one-off tournament in 2023? That was just a half-measure 
️.
...Salah and Diallo are legends 
! But West Ham without Aaron Wan-Bissaka is gonna be a disaster 
. And who's getting to represent Senegal, anyway? 
I mean, what's the point of even having an Africa Cup of Nations if top European clubs are just gonna cherry pick the best players? It's like they're sucking the life outta African football. And don't even get me started on Fifa's $100m super league proposal – that was just ridiculous 
. I remember when the Copa America and Gold Cup were still major deals, now it feels like an afterthought. The compromise of having a separate competition in December/January is a bit of a Band-Aid solution, but what about the long-term impact on African football? It's all about the benjamins for European clubs