Aboutrika Criticizes Motsepe After AFCON Every Four Years Decision: "CAF Now Serves European Football"

Mohamed Aboutrika, the former Al Ahly and Egypt national team legend, launched a scathing attack on the Confederation of African Football (CAF), asserting that its recent decisions serve the interests of European clubs at the expense of developing African football.

Aboutrika posted a tweet on his official Twitter account, stating: "The Confederation of African Football has become a servant of European football. This happens when you don't realize your true value and standing." He concluded his message with a concise phrase: "He who lacks something cannot give it."

The Egyptian star's comments came in response to CAF President Patrice Motsepe's announcement on Saturday regarding the adoption of a new system to hold the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years instead of every two, starting from the 2028 edition.

Motsepe explained that this move is part of a plan to restructure African football, aiming to make "the tournament calendar more compatible with the global calendar," noting that the abundance of international competitions has become a challenge for continental tournaments.

The CAF President indicated that organizing the AFCON every two years was a primary source of income for national federations. However, he believes that launching a new competition called the "African Nations League," similar to its European counterpart, will boost financial resources through larger prizes and a higher level of competition.

Motsepe added in statements on the sidelines of the opening match in Rabat: "Our focus is now on the current edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, and in 2027 we will move to Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, while the next edition will be in 2028."

He also affirmed: "After the Club World Cup in 2029, we will launch the first edition of the African Nations League, with larger financial prizes and fiercer competition. As part of the calendar reorganization, the Africa Cup of Nations will be held every four years."

The African tournament has been held every two years since 1957, but in recent years, it has faced significant difficulties in finding a suitable date within the crowded international calendar.