The 33rd African Cup of Nations (CAN) takes place from January 9 to February 6, 2022. Rarely has an CAN aroused so much criticism from European clubs. The latter are annoyed that their African players are leaving en masse for Cameroon, in the middle of the season. However, to organize a final phase at this time of the year, every two years, is not a whim on the part of the actors of African football, but a necessity. Explanations.
” An invisible monster “… In recent months, the African Cup of Nations (CAN) football has generated an unprecedented number of negative comments in Europe. The next final phase, scheduled for January 9 to February 6, 2022, has above all provoked an unprecedented sling from European clubs. They tolerate less and less seeing their African players leave in the middle of the championship to go and compete in the CAN with their countries.
” CAN takes 7 to 8 players, for example rebelled Frédéric Antonetti, the coach of FC Metz, a French club yet very linked to Africa and in particular to Senegal. It’s enormous. It is a rigged, distorted game. How can we have international competitions during national competitions? “
On December 10, the European Club Association (ECA) wrote to the International Football Federation (FIFA) to protest against the massive departure of African players for the CAN 2022 in a global health context degraded by the Omicron variant. On November 19, the World Leagues Forum, an organization that brings together 40 national professional football leagues, was also upset with FIFA about this situation.
► To read: Philippe Doucet: “There is no respect from European clubs for CAN”
CAN, a tournament apart for Europe
In fact, the African Cup of Nations is a tournament apart. It is one of the only major competitions today, along with the FIFA Club World Cup, to take place when the European national leagues are in full swing.
A situation which is however nothing new since the CAN exists since 1957 and even took place before at other periods, most often in March during the years 1970 and 1980. It is only from the 1996 edition – the first with 16 teams – that the CAN really started to be held systematically in January-February. At that time, the Bosman ruling had just enabled clubs from the Old Continent to employ many more foreign players.
Thus, of the 350 or so players who play CAN 1996, around a hundred play in Europe. For that of 2006, they are nearly 200 out of the 368 players present in Egypt. For the CAN 2017, they are more than 300 to leave their European clubs for the Africa Cup in Gabon. In the meantime, in 2009 FIFA relaxed its regulations on changes of sporting nationality. A footballer born in France, England or Belgium, for example, can more easily decide to represent Senegal, Algeria or Nigeria. An evolution which further accentuates the over-representation at CAN of players who work in Europe.
European clubs under tension
However, this is not enough to explain the tension of European clubs. The health crisis has a lot to do with it. In January 2021, the ex-boss of the ECA, Andrea Agnelli, assured that European training had lost up to 8.5 billion euros because of the Covid-19. However, in a context of great financial tensions, many clubs fear bankruptcy in the event of poor sporting results.
Some of them are reluctant to let their best elements go to the national team. Especially without knowing when they will return exactly from Cameroon and in what state of health, between health risks and travel restrictions linked to the coronavirus.
► To read: CAN 2022: Calendar and match results
A reform of the CAN which accentuates European criticism
In Europe, therefore, there is anger, fear and… misunderstanding. In July 2017, the African Football Confederation (CAF) decided that the CAN would now compete with 24 teams instead of 16. A new, longer formula (four weeks against three), with more matches (52 against 32) and players concerned (552 against 368).
Above all, CAF made a communication error, on this occasion, by insisting that the CAN would now take place in June-July, like other major competitions such as the European Nations Championship (Euro), the World Cup or the Copa America. Without insisting on the fact that the CAN could, if necessary, take place again in January-February …
European clubs, too happy that CAN 2019 took place in June-July, did not understand why CAF and Cameroonians decided to reschedule CAN 2021 in January-February. For them, it is in a way a return to square one. Worse, this CAN in Cameroon will last four weeks and involve up to 672 players … [1]
A climate in June not always compatible with a CAN
It is not, however, a whim of the actors of African football. In June-July, it is generally the monsoon in a large part of the countries of West Africa and part of the countries of Central Africa. The practice of high-level football, in good conditions, is often very difficult there. In Yaoundé, for example, according to historical data from the World Meteorological Organization, it falls 157 millimeters (mm) of precipitation, on average. In comparison, in London, in june, it falls 47 mm, on average. In Paris, it’s 54 mm. It would therefore traditionally rain a lot more during this period in Cameroon than in major European capitals.
The question should also arise for the next African Cup of Nations, for the moment scheduled in Côte d’Ivoire in June-July 2023 … Systematically organizing the CAN in June-July could in any case become an obstacle for major nations of African football who have already won this competition.
FIFA has implicitly recognized this problem. On December 20, its president, Gianni Infantino, proposed that the Africa Cup of Nations be in the future organized in ” fall “, during a month of October which would be largely devoted to national team matches. He did not mention a final phase “in summer”.
Alternatives?
But, apart from this Infantino proposal, are there any alternatives for the CAN? Change its format with eight groups of three teams instead of six groups of four teams, which would lead to a decrease in the number of matches (40 against 52)? Go back to a shorter final phase with 16 teams? It would be totally against the current trend in the world of sports. Trend towards a constant expansion of major events. In 2017, CAF basically only imitated many other large organizations such as FIFA with a 48-team World Cup or UEFA with a 24-team Euro.
►To read: RFI poll: a World Cup every 4 years and the CAN every 2 years acclaimed
What about CAN every four years instead of every two years? As an RFI poll revealed, this idea seems unpopular among African football fans. And, as the current boss of CAF, Patrice Motsepe, recalled, the African Confederation needs its goose that lays golden eggs every two years to live. This brings in tens of millions of dollars to an institution whose current budget is around 134 million dollars …
[1] CAF exceptionally authorizes each team participating in the CAN to come to Cameroon with 28 players, against 23 usually, to prevent too many cases of Covid leading to match cancellations.