Mali coach Tom Saintfiet on Thursday denounced the decision to play the Africa Cup of Nations every four years instead of two, insisting the move had been forced on the continent by FIFA and European clubs motivated by money.
«I am very shocked and very disappointed. It is the pride of African football, with the best players in African football,» the Belgian told reporters in Rabat ahead of Friday’s AFCON match between Mali and Morocco.
“To take it away and make it every four years, I could understand if it was a request from Africa for whatever reason, but it was all ordered by the big people at UEFA, the big clubs in Europe and also FIFA and that makes it so sad.”
Saintfiet, 52, has managed numerous African national teams, including Gambia, which he led to the quarter-finals of the 2022 Cup of Nations.
He was appointed by Mali in August last year and will take charge against the current AFCON hosts in an important Group A match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Friday.
READ | AFCON will be held every four years after the 2028 edition: CAF
The Cup of Nations has almost always been held at two-year intervals since its first edition in 1957, but Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe announced last weekend that the tournament would continue every four years, following a planned 2028 tournament.
«We have fought for so long to be respected, only to listen to Europe to change your history – because this is a history that goes back 68 years – only because of financial demands from clubs who use the pressure on players as an excuse while they create a World Cup with 48 teams, a Champions League without champions,» Saintfiet said.
«If you don’t get relegated in England, you almost end up in Europe, that’s so stupid,» he joked.
«If you want to protect players, you only play the Champions League with the champions. You do not create more competitions with more burden. Then you can still play AFCON every two years.»
“Africa is the biggest football continent in the world, all the big stars in Europe are Africans, so I think we are disrespecting Africa by going there every four years.
“I am very sad about that; I hoped that love for Africa would win out over the pressure from Europe.”
Published on December 25, 2025
