During a special show about the organization of the Africa Cup of Nations, Patrick Mboma, former Indomitable Lion of Cameroon and African Ballon d’Or winner in 2000, did not hide his dissatisfaction. According to him, the decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to hold the AFCON every four years is a real step back for African football.
“I looked for the benefits and I couldn’t find any,” he said, clearly annoyed. For Mboma, spacing out the competition makes it rarer, but also much more expensive for broadcasters and sponsors. “What is rare costs a lot. For a broadcaster or a sponsor, AFCON could now become extremely costly,” he explained.
The former striker is particularly worried about the less powerful nations. He cites the example of Togo, which has made it to the World Cup but sometimes struggles to qualify for AFCON. “Many countries need this competition to progress,” he insists. Even historic nations like Ghana, four-time AFCON champions, risk missing an edition and losing visibility.
Patrick Mboma also defends the emotion and spectacle that AFCON brings. “For me, this grand event every two years is essential, for my enjoyment and to showcase our continent,” he states. He also mentions individual records: “How can we explain that a player could surpass Samuel Eto’o Fils if AFCON only happens every four years?”
Passionate and deeply connected to the history of African football, Mboma raises a real alarm: reducing the frequency of AFCON could hinder the progress of teams and deprive fans of a unique spectacle.
For him, the CAF’s decision seems driven by financial reasons, but its sporting and emotional consequences could be long-lasting. This is a critical analysis that all lovers of African football should take into account.
