Mali coach Saintfiet hits out at European clubs, FIFA over AFCON changes / Photo: Abdel Majid BZIOUAT - AFP/File
RBGPF
-13.5000
The Prague Post - Mali coach Saintfiet hits out at European clubs, FIFA over AFCON changes
EUR
-
AED 4.306892
AFN 75.646395
ALL 95.724676
AMD 440.383498
AOA 1075.402786
ARS 1608.085285
AUD 1.660634
AWG 2.110932
AZN 1.998313
BAM 1.955283
BBD 2.358476
BDT 143.861942
BHD 0.442483
BIF 3480.679195
BMD 1.17274
BND 1.492105
BOB 8.091859
BRL 5.874493
BSD 1.17099
BTN 108.630262
BWP 15.720841
BYN 3.360911
BYR 22985.699188
BZD 2.355077
CAD 1.623248
CDF 2697.30186
CHF 0.925554
CLF 0.026668
CLP 1047.072999
CNY 8.007515
CNH 8.003896
COP 4264.671791
CRC 541.956627
CUC 1.17274
CUP 31.077603
CVE 110.235837
CZK 24.379388
DJF 208.524835
DKK 7.473758
DOP 70.511346
DZD 155.090971
EGP 62.282523
ERN 17.591096
ETB 183.744691
FJD 2.593519
FKP 0.871382
GBP 0.871601
GEL 3.155128
GGP 0.871382
GHS 12.886591
GIP 0.871382
GMD 86.200888
GNF 10274.281963
GTQ 8.95763
GYD 244.98519
HKD 9.18484
HNL 31.099773
HRK 7.535913
HTG 153.539382
HUF 375.515762
IDR 20041.301486
ILS 3.558339
IMP 0.871382
INR 109.170935
IQD 1533.994185
IRR 1543472.109781
ISK 143.297523
JEP 0.871382
JMD 185.141021
JOD 0.831519
JPY 186.788171
KES 151.529913
KGS 102.556542
KHR 4687.759864
KMF 492.551108
KPW 1055.443518
KRW 1741.014707
KWD 0.362014
KYD 0.975842
KZT 553.363609
LAK 25823.168542
LBP 104866.057933
LKR 369.552236
LRD 215.463
LSL 19.212217
LTL 3.462796
LVL 0.709379
LYD 7.444031
MAD 10.884021
MDL 20.175663
MGA 4859.714374
MKD 61.623698
MMK 2463.101174
MNT 4197.555211
MOP 9.446501
MRU 46.804618
MUR 54.556297
MVR 18.131
MWK 2030.462846
MXN 20.290044
MYR 4.649959
MZN 75.008877
NAD 19.212217
NGN 1594.344064
NIO 43.088601
NOK 11.170234
NPR 173.80802
NZD 2.009837
OMR 0.450923
PAB 1.17099
PEN 3.952054
PGK 5.068659
PHP 70.219557
PKR 326.614995
PLN 4.254117
PYG 7572.996582
QAR 4.269071
RON 5.092392
RSD 117.338958
RUB 90.423579
RWF 1710.047611
SAR 4.401975
SBD 9.450111
SCR 17.808289
SDG 704.81699
SEK 10.873585
SGD 1.49384
SLE 28.878761
SOS 669.222959
SRD 43.917976
STD 24273.345166
STN 24.49352
SVC 10.246289
SYP 129.626608
SZL 19.216916
THB 37.771646
TJS 11.130156
TMT 4.110453
TND 3.421695
TRY 52.380465
TTD 7.946898
TWD 37.224875
TZS 3038.69612
UAH 50.876041
UGX 4332.853754
USD 1.17274
UYU 47.247501
UZS 14239.233045
VES 558.033909
VND 30885.274174
VUV 140.185433
WST 3.206853
XAF 655.783514
XAG 0.015387
XAU 0.000247
XCD 3.169388
XCG 2.110442
XDR 0.815584
XOF 655.783514
XPF 119.331742
YER 278.115659
ZAR 19.254112
ZMK 10556.069282
ZMW 22.278106
ZWL 377.621722
- Ngumoha's 'special' impact no surprise to Slot
- Arsenal suffer major title blow as Liverpool earn vital win
- US, Iran hold high-level peace talks in Pakistan
- Over 200 arrested at pro-Palestinian rally in London
- McIlroy tees off with six-stroke Masters lead
- Record-breaking Bayern march closer to Bundesliga title
- World champions England make winning start to Women's Six Nations
- Yamal shines as Barca thrash Espanyol to extend Liga lead
- Drean double sets Toulon up for Champions Cup semi against Leinster
- Salah, Ngumoha ease Liverpool crisis with Fulham win
Mali coach Saintfiet hits out at European clubs, FIFA over AFCON changes
Mali coach Tom Saintfiet on Thursday railed against the decision to play the Africa Cup of Nations every four years instead of two, insisting the move was forced upon the continent by FIFA and European clubs motivated by money.
"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 told reporters in Rabat ahead of Friday's AFCON clash between Mali and Morocco.
"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."
Saintfiet, 52, has managed numerous African national teams including Gambia, who he led to the quarter-finals of the 2022 Cup of Nations.
He was appointed by Mali in August last year and on Friday will lead them out against current AFCON hosts in a key Group A game at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
The Cup of Nations has almost always been held at two-year intervals since the first edition in 1957 but Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe last weekend announced that the tournament would go ahead every four years after a planned 2028 tournament.
"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 joked.
"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."
C.Sramek--TPP
