Nigeria legend Jay Jay Okocha says organizing the Africa Cup of Nations in January is not fair insisting CAF must change the timing of the tournament.
Africa’s flagship football competition has been organized in the middle of the season since its inception until 2019 edition was organised in June and July.
In light of this, some European clubs face weeks without regular first team players, who go to represent their countries at the tournament.
The African Cup of Nations has seen some criticisms over the timing of the competition in a time European club football season heats up.
The 1994 AFCON winner, who has played three World Cup tournaments, has said the biennial competition has a big impact on the congested football calendar.
“They have made it so difficult for African players by playing in January or starting the season and winter break very early.” Okocha said on BBC World Service
“If they can move the World Cup to December because of heat to suit the nations that are participating, why can’t they do something about the AFCON and work together so that it will not affect anybody?
“I know coaches that declined to sign African players because of the Africa Cup of Nations in January. Meanwhile, these same coaches will sign Brazilian players who will play Copa America in June. It is not fair.”
The AFCON 2023 was originally scheduled in the summer, but due to the rainy season in Ivory Coast during that period and other concerns, the showpiece was pushed between back to January and February 2024.
It is likely that the next AFCON 2025 edition, which will be staged in Morocco, will return to the preferred June/July period.
But there will be a caveat as the first expanded 32 team FIFA World Cup will be played around that time which will also lead to a tussle between African players whose clubs will be playing in that World Cup and African teams that will be participating in 2025 AFCON.
