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Super Eagles legend Jay Jay Okocha calls for a more considerate scheduling of the AFCON that will no longer whisk players away at midseason.
The Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) 2023 raises the perennial question of club versus country, a dilemma that impacts players, fans, and football clubs. This issue is particularly pronounced when the AFCON comes around, as top players are called to represent their national teams, often during crucial periods of their club seasons.
Super Eagles legend and one-time AFCON winner Jay Jay Okocha spoke on the issue in a recent interview.
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Jay-Jay Okocha's stance on AFCON scheduling
Nigerian football legend Jay-Jay Okocha emphasised the challenge African players face due to the timing of the Afcon. He criticised the scheduling, which often conflicts with players' commitments to their club teams.
Okocha compared the situation unfavourably with Copa America, suggesting that a rescheduling akin to the World Cup's accommodation for host nations' climates would be fairer. This would prevent African players from being disadvantaged in the transfer market and club selections due to their Afcon commitments.
Jay-Jay Okocha won the Nations Cup with Nigeria in 1994 and says the timing of Afcon can have a big impact on players amid congested calendars.
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"They've made it so difficult for African players by playing in January or starting the season and winter break very, very early," Okocha told the BBC World Service.
"If they can move the World Cup to December because of the heat to suit the nations that are participating, why can't they do something about the Nations Cup and work together so that it will not affect anybody?
"I know a lot of coaches that refuse to sign African players because of the January (Afcon) window, but they will sign Brazilians who go to play in the Copa America in the summer. It's not fair."
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