African football confederation president Issa Hayatou is against
the idea of playing the African Cup of Nations every four years.
The continental competition is currently held every two years
and is regularly criticized by Europe's big clubs, which are forced
to let their players go in the middle of the season.
In comments released Monday by CAF, Hayatou said "it is
totally excluded at present" to move the tournament to a four-year
cycle but that the possibility of staging it on odd years was
examined.
Such a move would allow the African Confederation to hold its
showcase event on years that don't contain other major tournaments,
like the World Cup or the European Championship.
"The decision is actually pending," Hayatou said. "No
decision (has been) taken yet. This requires a great reflection on
the feasibility, particularly in terms of qualifying for major
competitions."
Hayatou added that the tournament was an opportunity for all
African countries to develop their infrastructures. In Angola,
where this year's African Cup (CAN) is currently being played, new
stadiums were built in Luanda and three other cities.
"We need sports infrastructure in our countries," Hayatou
said. "Four stadiums were built in Ghana 2008, another four this
year in Angola. These would not have happened without the CAN. The
CAN is a development tool not only in the football area."
The next African Cup will be co-hosted by Gabon and
Equatorial Guinea in 2012.
