AFCON
ROW IN GHANA OVER BLACK STARS’ AFCON 2019 BUDGET
BY CYPHER KWAKU DRIZZLE, ACCRA.
Ghana’s early exit from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations is still generating raucous reactions in the country. The country’s Minister of Sports, Isaac Kwame Asiamah told the Parliament that$4,564,532.00 was spent on the Ghana Black Stars out of the $6.3 million budgeted and that the remaining amount will be returned to the National coffers.
The budgeted amount has led to wild criticism considering that Algeria, the champions, got $4.5m as price.
The Black Stars was
eliminated at the round 16th stage of the competition yet managed to spend more
than the prize money of the winners. This has angered a lot of Ghanaian.
Award-winning Ghanaian journalist, Kwame Sefa
Kayi, on his show, Kokrokoo on Peace FM in Ghana, wondered the sense in
budgeting more than the prize money; worse spending such huge amount on a team,
which was exited at just the round 16th stage.
He added that the former Ghana Football
Association president, Kwesi Nyantakyi has been vindicated when he said that
some people just want to use the Black Stars as their source of revenue hence
the determination to get him off the Association.
In another development, Kofi
Amoah, the President of the Normalisation Committee of the Ghana FA confirmed
that the Black Stars players have been paid their allowances.
He revealed that prior to the players’ departure
for their training in Dubai, each player received $23,000 at the Tang Palace
Hotel Accra.
In another twist, a spokesman for the Normalisation Committee, Dan Kwaku Yeboah is quoted by Ghanaweb as lashing out at journalists criticizing the expenditure at the Africa Cup of Nations.
“Journalists
and officials who benefited from what many have described an outrageous AFCON
budget yet have the nerves to criticize are hypocrites”, the publication quoted
Yeboah as saying.
“What is more painful is the fact that some of
them went to enjoy in Egypt but the same person is loud criticizing. Those days
we were talking about budgets if you gave us money we will not take because we
do not want out names to mentioned anywhere”, Yeboah reportedly disclosed on
Accra-based Peace FM monitored by MyNewsGh.com.
He was particularly shocked that those
journalists including officials have made a sudden U-turn and joined a section
of Ghanaians to bastardize the Normalisation Committee as well as the Ministry
of Youth and Sports over the $4.5 million budget.
“If you have enjoyed part of the budget you must
shut up. Making a U-turn to criticize the very move you benefited is hypocrisy.
During the reign of Nyantakyi when I spoke against the budget he met me on so
many occasions and gave me money I rejected it because I did not want any
trouble. But some of the journalists and officials took per diem but are heard
also talking”, he added.
The Confederation of African Football has announced a major overhaul of its flagship competition, with the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) set to expand from 24 to 28 teams.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe disclosed the decision on Sunday following an executive committee meeting, describing it as part of the body’s commitment to elevating African football to global standards.
Motsepe said the expansion would create more opportunities for countries across the continent while ensuring that top African players worldwide return home to compete at the highest level.
“This is about our commitment to world-class football, bringing together the best African players from across the globe to compete on the continent,” he stated.
However, the CAF boss did not provide details on how the new 28-team format would be structured or when the expansion would take effect, leaving questions over qualification pathways and tournament scheduling.
Continuity for 2027, New Cycle from 2028
Motsepe confirmed that the 2027 AFCON will proceed as planned with co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, maintaining the current 24-team format for that edition.
In a significant shift, CAF also announced that another AFCON tournament will be staged in 2028, after which the competition will move to a four-year cycle—aligning more closely with other major international tournaments.
CAF Nations League Introduced
In addition to AFCON reforms, CAF revealed plans to introduce an African Nations League starting from 2029. The new competition will be held annually, with a 16-team final tournament staged every two years.
The initiative is aimed at improving the competitiveness, structure and commercial value of the African national team football.
“We have to stop this situation where African fixtures are not predictable, consistent and reliable,” Motsepe said. “We must also focus on developing football in regions like East Africa, which has enormous potential.”
A New Era for African Football
The proposed changes mark one of the most ambitious restructurings of African football competitions in recent years, with CAF seeking to expand participation, enhance organisation and create a more predictable football calendar.
While details are still emerging, the decisions are expected to have far-reaching implications for national teams, qualification formats and the overall growth of the game across the continent.
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The Confederation of African Football said it would implement changes and improvements to its statutes and regulations that would ensure that the farcical scenes at January’s Africa Cup of Nations final do not happen again.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe said the changes would strengthen trust and confidence in its referees, VAR operators and judicial bodies, but did not give concrete details.
The announcement followed a meeting of CAF’s executive committee in Cairo on Sunday and came on a tumultuous day for the organisation as its general secretary resigned.
African football’s governing body has been battling a crisis of confidence after its Appeal Board stripped Senegal of the Cup of Nations title in a decision that has been met with widespread derision.
Senegal were ruled to have forfeited the final in Rabat on January 18 after walking off the pitch in protest at a potentially decisive penalty awarded to Morocco. They returned and scored a goal in extra time to win the game 1-0.
The decision is being challenged at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and if Senegal win back their title it will be a further blow to CAF’s credibility.
“CAF has taken extensive legal advice from top African and international football lawyers and experts, to ensure that the CAF statutes and regulations adhere to and implement global football best practices, on and off the field,” Motsepe said in a statement on Sunday.
“This is important for the respect, integrity and credibility of African referees, VAR operators and the CAF Disciplinary Board and Appeal Board.
“CAF is working with FIFA for the ongoing training of African referees, VAR operators and match commissioners so that they are as good as the best in the world… CAF has made significant progress over the past five years in implementing governance, ethics, transparency and managerial best practices,” the CAF president added.
More precise details on the changes and how they would avoid a repeat of the Cup of Nations final controversy were not given by Motsepe, who earlier this month admitted his organisation was struggling with perceptions about its integrity.
-Reuters
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By Kunle Solaja
The Confederation of African Football may be considering possible disciplinary measures against Senegal following reports that the country’s national team has continued to parade the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy despite being stripped of the title.
The development has triggered fresh debate within African football circles, with CAF understood to be treating the matter as a potential breach of its statutes and disciplinary code.
Sources close to the continental body indicate that Senegal’s actions could be interpreted as defiance of an official ruling, raising concerns about respect for regulatory authority and the precedent such conduct may set for other member associations.
CAF is believed to be weighing a range of sanctions, which could include financial penalties, formal reprimands, or restrictions on the country’s participation in certain CAF programmes and competitions.
While no final decision has been announced, insiders suggest that the governing body is keen to send a strong message on compliance and institutional discipline.
There are also indications that CAF’s disciplinary committee may be tasked with reviewing the circumstances surrounding the continued public display of the trophy, including whether the act constitutes misconduct under its regulations.
The issue is seen as more than a symbolic dispute over silverware. Analysts argue that how CAF handles the situation will reflect its ability to enforce decisions and maintain order among its 54 member associations.
“CAF cannot afford to appear weak on matters of discipline,” a source familiar with the situation said. “If a federation openly disregards a ruling, it undermines the entire governance structure.”
CAF is expected to provide clarity on the issue during an upcoming press engagement, where its president may outline the organisation’s position and any disciplinary steps to be taken.
For Senegal, the situation presents a delicate balancing act between national pride and compliance with continental football authority. For CAF, it represents a critical test of leadership and regulatory enforcement at a time when the credibility of African football governance remains under close watch.
The coming days are likely to determine whether the matter escalates into a full disciplinary case or is resolved through diplomatic engagement behind the scenes.
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