Farayi Mungazi BBC Sport

The timing of the Nations Cup is a source of friction between Africa and Europe

Timing, they say, is everything, especially when it comes to hosting a major football tournament.

But the timing of the African Nations Cup finals continues to be a source of great tension between European clubs and football associations in Africa.

Which is why I was not at all surprised to hear that Sam Allardyce, the manager of English Premiership side Bolton, is in uproar ahead of next year's finals from 20 January to 10 February.

Allardyce is worried that Egypt 2006 may rob him of five key players, including Nigeria captain Jay-Jay Okocha, at a critical stage of the season.

Aside from Okocha, Bolton are almost certainly going to lose the Senegal trio of El-Hadji Diouf, Abdoulaye Faye, Khalilou Fadiga, as well as Tunisia's Radhi Jaidi to Nations Cup duty.

But Allardyce is not the only manager facing this dilemma. As many as 30 Africans in England might be called up for the 25th Nations Cup, missing five or more domestic games.

The biggest problem with the Nations Cup is that it takes place at a time when the European season is shifting into top gear

Spanish champions Barcelona are not the same team without Samuel Eto'o, so you can imagine coach Frank Rijkaard's delight at the prospect of losing the Cameroonian for up to five weeks next year.

In 2004, several English Premiership clubs went to great lengths to prevent their players from leaving for the Nations Cup in Tunisia until the last possible moment.

The French league was decimated in 2004, losing more than 50 players - a scenario likely to be repeated next year.

While the club-versus-country issue is a well-trodden path, fears are increasing that many players will in future skip the Nations Cup unless it is rescheduled.

But the Confederation of African Football (Caf) insists that a biannual Nations Cup is an economic necessity.

Caf also says that holding the Nations Cup at two-yearly intervals means more countries will be given the chance to host the tournament, thereby developing their infrastructure.

It ought to be clear to everyone that holding the Nations Cup every two years will only widen the club-versus-country schism

That may well be the case but it is a system that also threatens the present and future prospects of African players in Europe.

There is no doubt that more and more European coaches are putting their faith in African players but the fear is that the timing of the Nations Cup will put paid to that.

The biggest problem with the Nations Cup is that it takes place at a time when the European season is shifting into top gear with the start of the knock-out phase of the Champions League.

I think it would be in the interest of the African game if Caf does a rethink and dwells on the possibility of changing the timing and frequency of the Nations Cup.

They could follow the South American example and stop scheduling the tournament in the same year as the World Cup finals.

It is ludicrous to ask players to take part in both tournaments, in the same year, in addition to their club commitments.

Staging the Nations Cup in the middle of the European season made sense when there were hardly any African players in Europe. But times have changed and Caf should also change.

Given the ever expanding influence of Africans in Europe's major leagues, it ought to be clear to everyone that retaining the current format of the Nations Cup will only widen the club-versus-country schism.

This debate is now closed.

My message to the Europeans is that the Nations Cup is not an IMF loan where they tell us what to do with it.
Collins Osei, Ghana/USA

I find it very annoying for European teams to complain when African players are needed by their countries but say nothing when Beckham, Owen, Ballack, etc are called up to play for their respective national teams. Who do these people think they are?
Kosabo Kabini, South Africa

The Nations Cup should stay where it is. If it is moved to June, the players will complain that they are tired due to the long season and if July/August, the European clubs will want them for pre-season training.
Jaiye Idowu, Nigeria

If Caf ever bows down to the wishes of these greedy clubs and reschedules the African Nations Cup, I will probably never ever watch any Caf competitions again!
Yusupha Tunkara, USA

The truth can be very bitter. However, we must learn to come to terms with the fact he who pays the piper dictates the tune. Without the huge sums of money being poured into the game by European clubs, African football would revert to its stone-age status.
Anthony Okosun, Baltimore, USA

European clubs are fully aware of the schedule for the Nations Cup and should take this into consideration when they plan for their own competitions. They are not doing African players a favour by hiring them - they sign them because they are good enough. European clubs need our players more than the players need them.
Anthony Annan, Ghana

Holding the Nations Cup every four years would see the decline of African football due to fewer games played, and African countries would also drop down the Fifa rankings.
Chipasha Lwao, Zambia

Do not be a sell-out! The African continent has been exploited and continues to be exploited by European imperialists for far too long. This situation is not different from the antics they employed in the past to keep the people of Africa under slavery. Caf would be damned if they gave in to these vampires.
Kwesi Plange, Ghana

If the Europeans have a problem, they should change their season Stanley Munyai, Zimbabwe

Africa stands to lose if we do not change our time-table. Most African players playing abroad will end up skipping the Nations Cup because at the end of the day, what they earn in Europe is more than what they get in Africa. Money is the main reason they moved abroad anyway.
Nick Kofi Asamoah, England

BBC, please tell the Europeans to stop telling us what to do with our own biggest tournament which will always take place every two years!
Eric Agwu, Benin Republic

Farayi, I really enjoyed your well-balanced article but I think that the we Africans should not always be the ones bending over backwards to accommodate European interests. I think Uefa should open dialogue with Caf and perhaps some sort of financial compensation could be made if Caf changes the schedule of the Nations Cup. I think this matter needs serious consultations by Fifa, Uefa and Caf.
John Julius, Liberia

The timing of the African Nations Cup has been an issue for quite some time. I do not think anyone can dispute the fact that there is a problem with the current tournament format. However, the proposed solutions are not always good for African football. Yes, the tournament should be scheduled at a different time. June and July should be good candidates even though some countries, which experience an abundance of rain, will be at a disadvantage. But this tournament cannot continue to be scheduled the way it is if we want our players to take full advantage of the best opportunities in Europe.
Adams Timmy, USA

The only solution I see to this problem is to have the African Cup of Nation played every four years instead of two - skipping the World Cup year. In that case, timing will be no problem because the tournament can be held in June when the foreign-based players are on holiday.
Kwesi Nwia, USA

Having the Nations Cup as a biannual event is a good idea provided it is held when most of the major leagues in the world are having a break, say in June or July. Under the current format, African teams are likely to have some of their key players injured or suffering from fatigue when the World Cup comes around. Caf should wake up to these realities, otherwise footballers will follow in the footsteps of the continent's athletes and change nationality.
Andrew Somiah, UK

BBC, I am sick and tired of not seeing my contributions published on this website. Nevertheless, I will continue to contribute to issues that affect African football. I think there is a lot of sense in rescheduling the Nations Cup. I suggest that it should be held in an odd year beginning from 2009 and the competition should continue to be held every two years.
Oluwadare Busuyi, Nigeria

I think African football should continue business as usual because that is the only way we can develop our football. In any case, why should we in Africa change our season? If the Europeans have a problem, they should change their season.
Stanley Munyai, Zimbabwe

This club-versus-country issue will continue unless Caf decides to change its calendar to suit Europe.
Wogormebu Aaron, Ghana

If Europeans cannot accommodate the Nations Cup, that is their own problem Chifuro Livingstone, Zimbabwe

We should be able to do our own things in our own way in Africa. The present timing of the African Nations Cup is perfect for African football.
Ayodele Orabiyi, UK

I appreciate that the European clubs have their own interests to defend but they should stop their 'Horse and the Rider' approach towards the African Nations Cup. December to January is the dry season in the greater part of Africa. It is a good time for the game. If Caf shifts the tournament to June-September, that will be suicidal!
Wisdom Chuks Agbakwuru, Nigeria/Germany

Farayi, there is nothing to mourn about African players missing club games in Europe. If Europeans cannot accommodate the Nations Cup, that is their own problem. It is high time we moved away from the colonial mentality that Europe is superior than Africa. Africa comes first for the Africans, so there is no need to change the current format.
Chifuro Livingstone, Zimbabwe

The expanding influence of Africans in Europe's major leagues is at the expense of Africa's own leagues, so if Europe's major leagues decide to limit the number of players from Africa, all the better for our leagues. If African leagues could retain some of the quality players who have moved to Europe, then more sponsorship will be poured into the game and this will result in the growth of football in Africa.
Ronnie, Zimbabwe

Do we need to compromise our competitions because of what is happening in Europe? I think Caf should work harder to develop the game and leagues in Africa rather than pleasing certain European interests. The Nations Cup is not meant for African players playing in Europe alone. UEFA will not change its calendar because of any African competition and Caf should not either.
Jude Ike, Nigeria

I have a better idea. Why not reschedule the European Champions League instead? Patrick Mensah, USA

Caf should look for a middle course. Right now, the Cameroonian team is not complete without Eto'o and it is doubtful whether any sponsor will put money on the Lions without him. Let Caf re-evaluate its stand in the interest of all.
Adekola Kolawole, Nigeria

I think it will be a good idea if the Nations Cup were to start in June, when the European leagues are over. It will make it easier for both club and country, and the international media will showcase the event. I believe major European leagues and the Champions League usually overshadow the Nations Cup because of its timing. Caf is clearly becoming an archaic institution and need reform to reform.
Mohamed Deen, UK

I have a better idea. Why not reschedule the European Champions instead? There is a conflict with schedules and the first suggestion that comes to mind is that Africa should always work around Europe's interests. Please, give us a break!
Patrick Mensah, USA

I totally disagree with the suggestion to pacify the European clubs at the expense of the Nations Cup fiesta. The Nations Cup tradition should stay put and the European clubs should respect it as such. No change of the tournament schedule will ever satisfy the managers of these European clubs since they are still going to need these players even if the Nations Cup schedule is changed. We need to stand up to these clubs because Fifa rules demand that they release our players. To satisfy the European clubs, the Nations Cup will probably have to be discontinued!
R. Nana Antwi, New York/Ghana

The African Cup of Nations must be scheduled according to what is best for the African people Bazeyi Hategekimana, USA

This is an appalling article by Farayi Mungazi. European clubs have all the money and have damaged African leagues with their financial muscle. Why should we change the dates of our tournament so the rich European clubs have even more access to our players?
Fosu Gharban, England

The African Cup of Nations must be scheduled according to what is best for the African people. However, arrangements can be made if they are profitable for both sides.
Bazeyi Hategekimana, USA

South Africa once brought up this issue, but just because it was South Africa bringing forth such a proposal, the bird was shot down before it even took off.
Sebati Edward Mafate, USA

This is one request too much. Why must we in Africa always be expected to sacrifice for the benefit of others. In as much as our players need these European leagues, we must not always be expected to dance to their tune.
Samah Abang-Mugwa, Cameroon

There is need for a compromise between Europe and Africa. Most African players earn their living from Europe. It will, therefore, be improper to ask those players to shun their employers in order to honour calls from their fatherland. It is high time football administrators in the two continents did their football schedules jointly.
George Nworie, Nigeria

Why should we have bend over backwards again and again for European clubs? In the past the Nations Cup was held in March and UEFA clubs whined and moaned, and Caf moved the tournament to February. After yet more complaints and pressure from Europe, the competition now takes place from mid-January to early-February but that is still not good enough. These clubs in Europe have nor will they ever give a damn about the Nations Cup.
Nabil-Ben-Brahim, Tunisian in Canada

There have been several campaigns in the past to get the cup of nations to be held every four years instead of two. The problem is that some of the smaller countries in Caf oppose this because it would mean their national teams get less exposure. It makes perfect sense for teams like Nigeria or Cameroon, but teams Lesotho and Swaziland say they need the extra games. Hopefully, we will see some sort of compromise that involves changing the Cup of Nations to four-year intervals and then perhaps introduce a more low-key regional competition (like the Cosafa Cup) in World Cup years.
Hosam Badr, USA