“I am shocked and very disappointed” Mali's head coach slams FIFA and European clubs over 4-year AFCON plan

Saturday, December 27, 2025 - Tom Saintfiet, head coach of Mali national football team, has criticised the decision to stage the Africa Cup of Nations every four years instead of the traditional two-year cycle, describing the move as one imposed on Africa by global football authorities and European clubs driven by financial interests.

Saintfiet spoke on Thursday, December 25, in Rabat ahead of Friday’s AFCON Group A clash between Mali and hosts Morocco national football team.

“I am very shocked with it and very disappointed. It is the pride of African football, with the best players in African football,” the Belgian coach told reporters.

“To take it away and make it every four years, I could understand if it was a request for any reason from Africa, but it is all instructed by the big people from (European governing body) UEFA, the big clubs in Europe and also FIFA and that makes it so sad.”

The 52-year-old has coached several African national teams, including Gambia national football team, whom he guided to the quarter-finals of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations. He was appointed Mali coach in August last year and is set to lead the team in a crucial Group A fixture at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

The Africa Cup of Nations has largely been held every two years since its inaugural edition in 1957. However, the president of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, announced last weekend that the tournament would move to a four-year cycle following a planned 2028 edition.

“We fought for so long to be respected, to then listen to Europe to change your history, because this is a history going back 68 years, only because of financial requests from clubs who use the load on players as the excuse while they create a World Cup with 48 teams, a Champions League with no champions,” Saintfiet said.

“If you don’t get relegated in England you almost get into Europe, it is so stupid,” he added. “If you want to protect players then you play the Champions League with only the champions. You don’t create more competitions with more load. Then you can still play AFCON every two years.

“Africa is the biggest football continent in the world, all the big stars in Europe are Africans, so I think we disrespect Africa by going to every four years. I am very sad about that, I hoped that the love for Africa would win over the pressure of Europe.”