AFCON Every 4 Years: What some journalist think

 

The AFCON  every 4 years, a mixed feeling
Nasser Louai, a Lebanese journalist, is clearly mixed on the subject. If they think that the European clubs will be beneficiaries of this decision, he still mentions the importance of competition in Africa. And organizing it every 4 years could cut this momentum. 

“As a club football fan, I know that clubs sometimes suffer because some players go to the Africa Cup of Nations which takes place every two years and this situation can be difficult for some clubs to manage. However, I like watching the AFCON  and I would like to see it more regularly than having to wait four years. It’s very long and to be honest, I have a mixed feeling about this change. A part of me would like to watch the competition more regularly but its timing is problematic since it interferes with the season and penalizes many clubs. It’s 50/50 for me," 

he told the Rabat media centre after the opening match between Morocco and Comoros.

It is now decided. Apparently, this decision is far from being unanimous. Manuela Etock from LNFOOT was clear on the subject. The competition every 4 years is not the best decision made by the continental regional body. 

''I say NO. Because we are used to having an African Cup of Nations every two years. This would allow us not to be out of touch in terms of competition and that we should not wait to see only the World Cup. It is quite rare to see African countries go very far at the World Cup. AFCON is the competition that represents our continent, which represents our value."

 she said. 

For her, this decision is not made in the interest of African football: 

«Organizing the competition every 4 years will only be beneficial for two entities. It is about FIFA and the clubs where the players evolve. It’s true that we’re not going to spit on the clubs because they are the ones who pay the players. But, I don’t think it’s difficult for a club to refuse a player to go to the national team when they have to play in the Euro or the World Cup. But why is it a problem when it comes to the AFCON? It was necessary to split the difference in two instead of pleasing FIFA and the clubs. It’s a decision that will hurt. For the moment, we have the impression that it is nothing serious because we are in the middle of the African Cup of Nations. But waiting 4 years later to be able to attend the continental football mass, that’s when we’ll see that it was important to have this gathering every two years," 

she added.  

"The decision is made. What to do if not to accommodate." she concludes.

The AFCON every 4 years, totally approved
There are not only dissonant voices against the organization of the competition every 4 years. Michel Ateba, a Cameroonian journalist, welcomes this historic decision by the African Football Confederation. He also gives the reasons for this. 

“I think this is a good decision for the African Football Confederation. It allows the country to prepare well. This will strengthen the economic capacities of the CAF. In terms of planning, it will allow the CAF to better establish its projects. At the country level, it gives added value for preparation. Certainly, the competition will be played every 4 years. But, there is a League of Nations that has been created. It’s not that there will be no competition for 4 years. Only that the flagship competition will take a little more time to allow countries to better organize themselves and properly prepare the infrastructures hosting this competition," 

he replied at the end of the meeting between Cameroon and Gabon at the Adrar stadium in Agadir.