AFCON expansion key highlight at CAF symposium

The approval of the expansion of the African Cup of Nations from the current 16 to 24 teams stood out as the highlight of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) symposium that drew to a close in Rabat on Wednesday.

Several proposals among them restructuring age group tournaments, marketing of CAF competitions, partnerships between governments and the continental football governing body, and inter-club’s competitions were also passed at the symposium held in the outskirts of the Moroccan capital.

Those submissions will be presented on Thursday at the CAF Executive Committee where they will be vetted and given the final approval.

The move to expand the continent’s top tier international football competition seemed the most contentious of all proposals passed with those opposed it given little time to argue against it.

The few that spoke raised fears the ultimate result would be a deterioration in quality of the biennial showpiece as some pointed out the lack of resources among member associations to host an expanded number of teams.

In reply, the proponents maintained careful marketing strategies would lead to an increase in revenue generation and cited inclusivity saying modern football is seeking to offer more teams in major tournaments. This, they said, will convince them there is value in their investments in the sport.

“How do you go to approach the government for funds for qualifiers when you have not qualified for more than 15 or 20 years?

“How do you convince them it is not wastage of resources? It makes more sense when you show there is a bigger chance which could reduce the monopoly of some zones and countries in AFCON,” a Malawian delegate said.

He cited an example of his country whose last appearance in AFCON was in 2010.

“In 2010 we qualified and beat Algeria (3-1) in a group match. That shows every country has something to offer in a competition given a chance, and some do well in a tournament than in home and away matches format,” he added.

The debate on inviting three non African teams and playing the tournament outside the continent was met with fierce opposition.

According to the working group championing the resolution, the outside teams will increase the marketing capacity while staging it in other continents will ease the pressure of African states hosting many teams and enhance popularity of the competition.

“If we take it in Qatar or China, will  still be AFCON? What if we invite a team from Europe and win it even with a team B? That would be trumping on the respect the tournament has been accorded so far,” charged a Ghanian delegate.

-AFCON Evolution-

The first edition of the competition brought together three teams, Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia in 1957. In the third edition of 1962, six more teams joined the former three to make the total nine, before another expansion was effected 30 years later, taking the teams’ tally to 12.

The figure remained until 1998 when four more were added to realise today’s 16.

-Jacob Icia is reporting from Rabat, Morocco.