“AFCON Should Move to the Off-Season”- Gyan adds his voice to AFCON season debate
Asamoah Gyan, Africa’s all-time top scorer at the FIFA World Cup, has weighed in on the growing debate about the scheduling of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Gyan has joined calls for the tournament to be moved from its traditional January-February window to the off-season, to avoid disrupting European club football.
Historically, the AFCON has been played in January and February due to the climate conditions in many African countries, where the rainy season falls in June and July.
However, this timing has long been a point of contention, particularly for European clubs that rely on key African players during the heart of their domestic seasons. As a result, clubs are forced to cope with the absence of their African stars, often losing valuable points in crucial matches.
The former Black Stars captain, who has experienced this challenge first-hand throughout his distinguished career, spoke candidly on the Rio Presents podcast, hosted by former Manchester United captain and England international Rio Ferdinand.
The Ghanaian legend expressed his frustration with the current scheduling of the tournament and shared his opinion on the matter.
“I’ve thought about it all these years,” Gyan said. “Playing in January affects these European clubs where important African players play.”
He highlighted the negative impact on clubs, particularly when top African players are away for weeks, representing their countries in the prestigious competition. The absence of these key players can often leave clubs vulnerable, especially when they are chasing league titles or fighting relegation.
A Growing Concern for European Clubs
The influence of African footballers in European leagues has never been more significant. Players such as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, Brahim Diaz, Bryan Mbeumo, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have become integral parts of their respective clubs, making their absence during the AFCON window a significant loss.
Gyan’s comments reflect a widespread concern among European teams, who have called for a change in scheduling to mitigate the disruption caused by the tournament.
“The AFCON is a huge competition, but you see a club leading the league and then their players leave mid-season for the AFCON, and suddenly they start dropping points,” Gyan pointed out. This observation resonates with many fans and managers, as it can affect the momentum of a team in the middle of a tightly contested season.
Gyan’s proposal for the tournament to move to the off-season aligns with a growing sentiment among many stakeholders in the game. The off-season in Europe, which typically spans June to July, would allow African players to compete in AFCON without impacting their commitments to European clubs.
This change could also elevate the status of the tournament, making it a more prominent fixture in the global football calendar.
The Climate Dilemma
However, the issue of Africa’s climate has been one of the main reasons why AFCON has historically been scheduled in January and February.
Many African countries experience heavy rainfall during the traditional off-season months of June and July, which could make certain parts of the continent less suitable for football. The logistical challenges of this climate issue, combined with the existing calendar conflicts, make it a complex debate.
Gyan, however, feels that FIFA and CAF (the Confederation of African Football) should explore solutions to address this issue.
“It should get to a time where FIFA or CAF will have a place in the off-season for the AFCON,” he said.
He suggests that the governing bodies should come together to find a compromise that allows both the tournament to thrive and European clubs to field their best players throughout the season.
CAF recently announced that the AFCON would move from the usual two-year cycle to a four-year cycle starting from 2028. This means that from the 2028 edition, the next AFCON will be in 2032.
The African Nations League have also been scheduled as a new competition to fill in the void which will start in 2029.