Austine Jay Jay Okocha, the former captain of Nigeria’s national football team, has raised concerns about the timing of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The biennial championship, which typically takes place in the middle of the European football season, has sparked contentious debate between clubs and participating countries.
Scheduled within the FIFA calendar, the AFCON necessitates that clubs release players 14 days prior to the competition’s commencement. Okocha, who secured the AFCON title with Nigeria in 1994, contends that holding the competition amidst the season unfairly burdens African players.
In an interview with BBC Sport Africa, Okocha expressed his discontent, stating, “They’ve made it so difficult for African players by playing in January or starting the season and winter break very, very early. If they can move the World Cup to December because of the heat to suit the participating nations, why can’t they do something about the Nations Cup and work together so that it will not affect anybody?”
The upcoming 2023 AFCON finals, slated to be hosted by Cote d’Ivoire, are scheduled to run from January 13 to February 11.
The timing of the AFCON has prompted Okocha to call for reconsideration and collaborative efforts to alleviate the challenges posed to African players, echoing sentiments that resonate with those who share similar concerns about the tournament’s scheduling.
