Sports
Timing of FIFA Club World Cup ‘terrible for the projection’ of AFCON – LeRoy
Veteran coach, Claude LeRoy has voiced out the bias of many as regards the schedule of the 2021 expanded FIFA Club World Cup billed for June-July of that year.
The Togo coach, who spoke to BBC Sports Africa on the issue, has raised concerns about the global showpiece posing problems for the 2021 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
FIFA recently announced a new timing and format for the Club World Cup, set to be played in China between June 17 and July 4 with an expanded 24 teams.
The 2019 edition of the AFCON was played between June 21 and July 19, with the next edition in 2021 to be hosted by Cameroon also likely to be around same date.
“Fifa’s decision that June is a good time to host the Club World Cup means they are killing the Nations Cup,” LeRoy was quoted by the BBC.
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“When they decided to make a world championship of clubs with 24 teams at the same time as the Africa Cup of Nations, it’s terrible for the projection of this beautiful competition – the Nations Cup.”
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) under the leadership of Ahmad Ahmad had moveed the AFCON from its original January-Febuary date to the summer, mainly to accommodate African players who ply their trades in Europe.
LeRoy says the purpose is defeated if CAF is forced to again adjust AFCON dates to allow the Club World Cup hold as already scheduled.
“If you move the Nations Cup to July, it’s worse than before (when played in January-February) for the clubs,” he continued.
“The players will miss the pre-season preparations with their clubs and this part of the season is the most important for the players because of the new season.
“If we transfer a little bit later in July, not one player will be coming back for the pre-season preparations and they will rest for 1-2 weeks and begin the season later than the whole players.”
A FIFA Spokesman however said, “a balanced solution will be found and the dates will be compatible.”
LeRoy, current coach of the Togo national team, has coached at a record nine Nations Cups, winning the tournament with Cameroon in 1988.
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