AFCON’s Bitter Pill: Beye Slams Delayed Player Releases As Symptomatic Of Deeper Disrespect

AFCON’s Bitter Pill: Beye Slams Delayed Player Releases as Symptomatic of Deeper Disrespect

In a scathing critique, former Senegalese international Habib Beye has lambasted the delayed release of African players for the AFCON, branding it a symptom of a broader disrespect for African football. Beye’s withering assessment underscores the frustration and disillusionment simmering beneath the surface, as African nations struggle to assert their interests in a global football landscape dominated by European powerhouses.

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“I’m not surprised by what’s happening because, in a way, this interference—this idea that you can affect this competition at the last minute by thinking it’s a minor tournament—has already happened in the past,” Beye said, his words dripping with disdain.

As a former international player, Beye has firsthand experience of the cavalier treatment meted out to African football, and his patience is wearing thin.

“You get the impression that you can move the AFCON whenever you want, place it wherever you want, and give it whatever organization you want—and it doesn’t happen like that with other federations or other international competitions,” he added, highlighting the perception that African football is often treated as a secondary concern. Beye’s assertion is a damning indictment of the governance and prioritization of African football, and it’s a charge that demands a response from the continent’s football authorities.

The AFCON’s scheduling has been a bone of contention for some time, with the tournament’s dates being altered to accommodate the Club World Cup. Beye argues that this decision was made with scant regard for the impact on African players and teams, and he’s not afraid to say so.

“Everyone knows AFCON was scheduled for this period a long time ago. It was moved to this date because of the Club World Cup, and everyone knew that from the moment it was moved,” he said.

Beye’s club is one of the few that has not exerted pressure on their federation to retain their players, and he’s proud of that fact. “Had we been asked to release our players on the 8th, we would have done so on the 8th,” he said. However, the players will now stay until the 15th, and Beye is pleased to have them. Nevertheless, he can’t shake off the feeling that the situation is unacceptable.

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“If we put ourselves in the shoes of the national team coaches and federations, I find it unacceptable,” he said, his words a clear call to action for African football’s governing bodies to stand up for their rights.

Beye’s comments are a wake-up call for African football, and they come at a time when the continent’s football authorities are under pressure to deliver results. The AFCON is a showcase for African football, and it’s time that it’s treated as such. Anything less would be a disservice to the players, the teams, and the fans.