By Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (December 30^th 2025)

Africa’s Flagship Tournament

For 68 years the Africa Cup of Nations has boasted pride of place in Africa’s football. Ghana failed to qualify for the 35^th AFCON, currently taking place in Morocco. The Black Stars were undoubtedly the African Team of the 1960s. They were also the first country to win the title thrice – 1978 – under the late Fred Osam Duodo. Four years later they won the title for the fourth and so far last time – the third time the legendary Charles Kumi Gyamfi had led Ghana to the ultimate African prize.

Abdul Razak Karim (Golden Boy) was one of the greatest players Ghana ever produced – the former Asante Kotoko great won the Africa Cup of Nations twice – 1978 and 1982.

Huge Errors

Golden Boy has strong opinions on two of the major AFCON topics. CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe announced drastic changes on the eve of this edition starting. For many years European football has demanded changes to suit its interests.

These demands were supported by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The Confederation of African Football originally approved Morocco’s bid to host the AFCON this summer just past. It was what Europe had demanded, but Infantino had other ideas. The schedule was changed to accommodate the revamped Club World Cup, a tournament that benefited the 32 participants greatly, but at the expense of almost all the others – even top clubs like Barçelona, Liverpool and Manchester United.

This decision, whether approved by football confederations or not adversely affected AFCON and many clubs. Sunderland lost seven players to the Africa Cup of Nations. The effect could be catastrophic for them. Many others are affected, but if Morocco had been allowed to host in the summer as they wanted to this would not have happened.

Infantino and others had wanted the dates of AFCON changed to suit themselves – the European summer and that AFCON should only take place once every four years.

“I don’t think [it] is a good idea,” Razak said. “We should continue with the 2 years.”

Golden Boy as added his voice to the chorus of disapproval. The newly proposed annual African Nations League has not assuaged the feeling in Africa that the Africa Cup of Nations should be protected and that it should not bow and scrape to the demands of European football.

Coinciding Interests

Ironically, this time the interests of African and European football had coincided. Morocco, like other north-African nations tended to want to host in the summer of the northern hemisphere. That would have meant that major European leagues would not have lost their players during a crucial stage of their seasons.

Also, the quality of the football may well be affected – in fact, it was bound to happen. “The summer is better than the raining season as you can see now,” Razak said. He’s not wrong.