Pape Diouf did not hold back in criticizing the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over the planned changes to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations schedule. In an interview with L’Observateur, the former Olympique de Marseille president called CAF officials a “bunch of incompetents,” accusing them of mismanagement since Issa Hayatou’s departure.
Diouf questioned the rationale behind CAF’s decision to postpone the tournament to June, suggesting that the official explanation—avoiding clashes with European clubs or citing weather conditions—was unconvincing. “It wasn’t just to avoid upsetting European clubs; according to CAF officials, it was the solution with a capital S. Now they’re backtracking. I wonder where the truth lies. Was it there when CAF decided to postpone the AFCON to June? Or is it now? I’ve always maintained that since Issa Hayatou left, we’ve unfortunately been governed by a bunch of incompetents who don’t know which way to turn and who aren’t doing anything to advance African football,” he said.
The former Marseille boss also dismissed weather-related concerns as a flimsy excuse, emphasizing that every decision requires clear justification. “Every decision requires an explanation. What’s more difficult is finding justifications. And in this case, there are no justifications,” Diouf added. According to him, CAF has been mired not only in a series of missteps but in a broader cycle of inconsistency, failing to provide the leadership necessary to promote and advance African football effectively.
Diouf made these comments while attending an event in Dakar on Tuesday, signaling his willingness to speak openly about the governance issues facing African football, regardless of potential backlash from the continent’s governing body. His critique underscores growing frustration among football officials and observers over CAF’s handling of major competitions since Hayatou’s exit.
