To get an idea of the value of Afcon, all you have to do is listen to some of the continent’s greatest ever players. Legends such as Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba – or the big stars still in action, like Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Riyad Mahrez.
They have trophy cabinets full of medals and titles from European club football, but Afcon means everything to them.
Comparisons will always be made to the quality of the Euros and the Copa America, but – just like those tournaments – it’s incredibly difficult to win the trophy for even the biggest names and biggest countries.
I’ve lost count of the amount of times the tournament favourites have crumbled under the pressure, or in tough conditions against so-called smaller football nations.
Drogba never won it despite playing in a golden generation of Ivory Coast talent. Salah is yet to lift the trophy, and I can still picture how devastated he was after losing the finals in 2017 and 2021.
The organisers also argue the interest in the tournament around the world is increasing all the time. And having been in Ivory Coast at the last edition, I feel that too.
It was one of the most exciting I’ve experienced with the dramatic storyline of the hosts sacking their manager in the group stage before making a remarkable comeback and winning the final. On the ground it certainly felt that it was bigger than ever before with more worldwide interest than ever before.
Yes, there have been many issues in the past that have damaged the reputation of the tournament. For example late changes to the location, such as when Egypt hosted in 2019 instead of Cameroon, who weren’t ready. Or changes to the timing, for example with the next edition which was due to take place in June and July but will now start just before Christmas.
Then there are difficulties with infrastructure, security or organisation. But similar issues have also impacted the Euros and the Copa America in recent years.
I’ve always found complaints about the tournament taking place in the middle of the European season overblown. Yes it’s frustrating for the clubs but why should African football be dictated to by the European game? Weather conditions also make hosting it in June and July impossible in certain areas of the continent.
The tournament may not get the respect it deserves in some parts of the world but after covering six Afcons I get the impression that’s changing and that the next edition in Morocco, where football is booming right now, will be bigger than ever and may just have an impact on the Ballon d’Or voting.
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