April 12 – The new president of African football, Ahmad Ahmad, has hinted that he is open to the idea of changing the dates of the African Cup of Nations, the confederation’s flagship event.
Before being crushed by Ahmad in the CAF presidential election last month that ended his 28-year reign, Issa Hayatou dismissed any possibility of changing the timing of the Nations Cup amid calls for it to be rescheduled to accommodate European clubs who lose their African players midway through the season.
But Ahmad has promised a thorough study of everything undertaken by his predecessor including the traditional Nations Cup date in January and February, plus its staging every two years.
European complaints have so far fallen on deaf ears but Ahmad has opened up the possibility that the dates could be subject to change, with some close to him saying it may actually benefit sponsors and broadcasters by switching to the northern hemisphere summer.
“I am not wholly against the idea of a change,” said Ahmad. “But my gestures will be to listen to people and open the debate in an official way. Anything related to the Nations Cup is a priority for us. We must evolve. It will be a decision that will be good for the confederation, not just what suits its executive committee.”
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