Adding that the entire African continent is fully behind them. According to the CAF secretary general, Hicham El Amrani, who confirmed the Confederation's messages to both Nigeria and Algeria, said “We wish the best of luck to Algeria and Nigeria as the entire African continent is behind them.”
He confirmed that Caf President Issa Hayatou has contacted both federations.
Speaking further, he said Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) believes its decision to move the timing of the Africa Cup of Nations from even to odd years is partly responsible for the qualification of two Africa teams a to the round of 16 of the on-going FIFA tournament.
Brazil 2014 is the first World cup to be played after CAF took the decision in respect to concerns from fitness expert who are of the opinion that it’s hard for a player to peak twice in such a short time as the Nations cup is usually five months away from the World cup.
Also the Africa Nations Cup distract teams who used it as a yard stick to judge their handlers and sometimes fire their coaches just months before the Mundial leaving the new man in charge with little or no time to prepare his team properly.
But all of those are now in the past. “Playing the Nations cup same year as the World Cup, makes it impossible for African players to have two major events to play in the space of six months.”
“The fact that two teams made it through is a combination of various factors, one of which is Caf’s decision to change the Nations Cup from even to odd years,”
El Amrani also attributed the team’s progressions to their “preparations, talent and skills” as well as the “overall progress and development of the African game”.
Brazil 2014 is the first World cup to be played after CAF took the decision in respect to concerns from fitness expert who are of the opinion that it’s hard for a player to peak twice in such a short time as the Nations cup is usually five months away from the World cup.
Also the Africa Nations Cup distract teams who used it as a yard stick to judge their handlers and sometimes fire their coaches just months before the Mundial leaving the new man in charge with little or no time to prepare his team properly.
But all of those are now in the past. “Playing the Nations cup same year as the World Cup, makes it impossible for African players to have two major events to play in the space of six months.”
“The fact that two teams made it through is a combination of various factors, one of which is Caf’s decision to change the Nations Cup from even to odd years,”
El Amrani also attributed the team’s progressions to their “preparations, talent and skills” as well as the “overall progress and development of the African game”.
Algeria faces Germany and Nigeria faces France on Monday.
Source
Source
No comments:
Post a Comment