The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) headed by Amaju Pinnick has expressed support at the decision of the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to move the Africa Cup of Nations timetable from January and February to June and July and also expand the numbers of participating countries from 16 to 24.
The timing of the Nations Cup finals has been contentious, as it has been played in January, in the middle of the league season in Europe. The majority of Nations Cup players come from European clubs and increasingly found themselves drawn into a club versus country tug-of-war.
The increase in teams follows the expansion of the European Championship last year, which African observers said had been a success.
“From a sporting perspective, it will allow more opportunity for footballers across the continent. It will increase revenue for CAF and we can triple our income. It will also force more infrastructure development,” said Nigerian Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick, who is also a CAF executive committee member.
Ex-Nigerian international, Henry Nwosu also expressed his delight at the decision CAF to move the Africa Cup of Nations timetable from January and February to June and July.
The CAF executives rounded off its two-day symposium on the development of football on the African continent in Rabat, Morocco.
Two major resolutions adopted were the amendment of the AFCON calendar, which takes effect from the next edition in Cameroon in 2019, and its expansion from 16 to 24 participating teams.
Nwosu who was in Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations teams in 1980, 1982, 1984 and 1988 spoke with Completesportsnigeria.com on the latest development.
“When I played in the Africa Cup of Nations, it was held in March. I feel the decision of CAF to move it to June and July is in the best interest of the game in Africa,” Nwosu said.
“Moving the Nations Cup to the summer when the European season is over means that clubs will not have reasons to keep hold of their African players which was the case sometimes in the past. The increase from 16 teams to 24 will also mean more revenue for CAF. It’s a win-win situation for every party.
“CAF have stuck with the two-year interval, and I do not have a problem with that because here in Africa, we’re still not developed enough to wait for a four-year gap. The two-year interval will help African nations.
“At least if a country misses the present edition, they can look forward to the next one. It helps the development of the game here in Africa.”
CAF revealed that inspection of facilities for the 2019 AFCON in Cameroun would be conducted in early September.
Anthony Nlebem
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