Africa’s Endorsement Needed for World Cup Hosting Every 2 Years

First Published: November 25, 2021

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will host an emergency 13th General Assembly on Friday, 26th November, 2021 in Cairo.

Member countries were expected to largely support plans to reduce the World Cup’s frequency to every two years and to support the creation of a Super League for the continent.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe expressed in a news gathering last month that:

“one of the biggest beneficiaries of a World Cup every two years is the developing countries.”

This will reconcile the fact that the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), the continent’s flagship event, will be in jeopardy. It is conducted every two years since it used to provide 80% of CAF’s revenue prior to the confederation receiving FIFA financial grants.

However, on the sideline, Motsepe has also become a close acquaintance of Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s president in the support of his plan, to reduce the frequency of the World Cup. The idea overtime has faced stiff opposition from Europe and South America.

“We have seen players who play in leagues saying this will be ‘too much’ and be a risk to their health & well-being. You only hear one reason – money. Promoters of this plan are making a mistake thinking organising a World Cup every 2 years means double the money for FIFA.”

— AIPS MEDIA (@AIPSmedia) November 24, 2021

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According to sources, he stated in support that it will further the notion that increased World Cup cash will flow down to African members and strengthen their wallets.

Since CAF president Patrice Motsepe has expressed support for having the World Cup every two years rather than the existing four-year cycle, FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s proposals are expected to be endorsed by the normally compliant congress.

CAF is also set to request formal approval of plans for a Super League, which will feature a permanent roster of around 20 teams with one or two adjustments every season (another Infantino proposal).

“The super league for Africa is a new competition because all of those other competitions are locked into agreements and the money they get is not enough,” Motsepe said.

Despite the fact that similar ambitions for a Super League in Europe failed spectacularly, Africa has forged ahead with its own version.

Following Motsepe’s election as president in Rabat in March, the CAF’s 54 members will assemble for an extraordinary congress on Friday.

Source: FIFA International News