Fifa’s lack of concern for African football’s key money-spinner has led to inadequate preparation time
W
ith the hosts, Morocco, taking on the island nation of Comoros in the Africa Cup of Nations opener in Rabat on Sunday, there is no mistaking the excitement across the continent. Football is akin to a religion among Africa’s largely young population, with 60% of its 1.5 billion people under the age of 25.
But the timing of this Afcon, to be played over the Christmas and New Year period in Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier and Fez, has never happened since the tournament began in 1957, igniting a storm of anger throughout the African football community.
Patrice Beaumelle, Angola’s 47-year-old French coach, spoke the minds of his colleagues when he excoriated the Confederation of African Football (Caf) and Fifa for shortening pre-Afcon team preparation time from two weeks to less than seven days. “Releasing a player on the 15th [of December] for an Afcon that kicks off on the 21st … it’s nonsense,” he said. “You can’t prepare a serious team in just two or three sessions.”
