Moving Afcon to June ‘will increase revenue’

CAF also plans to expand final tourney to 24 teams during Europe recess

Rabat – The African Nations Cup finals are set to be expanded to 24 teams and moved to dates in June and July, but will continue to be held every two years after recommendations on the tournament at a symposium in Morocco yesterday.

The decision must still be ratified by the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) executive committee, but that could come as early as today when they meet in Rabat.

The recommendations were made after a workshop on the future of the tournament that included much of CAF’s leadership, and the decision is expected to be rubber-stamped.

The timing of Afcon 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 Pinnock, who is also a CAF executive committee member.

The proposal to increase the scale of the finals to 24 teams did raise some opposition at the symposium, however.

“This will restrict to just a handful the number of African countries who are able to host future Nations Cup,” said former Cameroon goalkeeper Joseph-Antoine Bell, one of over 200 African football personalities at the symposium. –