Claude Leroy, the coach of Congo, has raised concerns about the scheduling of African Cup matches conflicting with FIFA international dates. He particularly highlighted the issue of matches scheduled before and after the upcoming FIFA date on March 5th.
Leroy expressed his frustration, emphasizing that the FIFA date in March is crucial for teams like Congo to conduct tests and preparations for upcoming competitions. However, the scheduling of African Cup matches on weekends surrounding this FIFA date creates difficulties for national teams relying heavily on local players.
The Congo national team consists largely of players from the local championship, as well as those from two prominent clubs competing in continental competitions simultaneously. Leroy pointed out the logistical challenges posed by this scheduling, especially considering the limited air connections within Africa.
He also highlighted the upcoming challenges with the CAN 2015 preliminaries beginning in May, coinciding with the second qualifying round. Leroy criticized the lack of coordination between CAF and FIFA calendars, stressing the need for consistency and consideration for players’ club commitments, especially those playing in European leagues.
In summary, Leroy’s remarks underscore the importance of harmonizing CAF and FIFA calendars to avoid scheduling conflicts that adversely affect national teams and players’ preparations for international competitions.
