"It was a decision that took many by surprise, although not those who have been watching closely since February 2020. Members of the Confederation of African Football's (Caf) executive committee, along with various other dignitaries including George Weah, the former Ballon d'Or winner and president of Liberia at the time, were assembled in Rabat at a seminar to hear Gianni Infantino outline his plan for the development of competitions and infrastructure in African football."
"As well as improving standards in refereeing and mobilising investment in the continent's infrastructure, the president of Fifa floated the prospect of holding its most important tournament, the Africa Cup of Nations, every four years instead of every two and described the current arrangement as useless. The argument ran that it would be more beneficial for countries at the commercial level and would help to project African football to the top of the world."
"NO GOAL! DR Congo 1-0 Benin Scratch that. Mbuku was offside in the build up by quite a way, in fact so the goal has been disallowed. Share GOAL! DR Congo 2-0 Benin (Bakambu 47) An early goal in the second half of today's first game. Cedric Bakambu has doubled DR Congo's lead with a precise header from Nathanael Mbuku's superb cross."
DR Congo took the lead and later had a Mbuku-built goal disallowed for offside before Cedric Bakambu doubled the advantage with a second-half header from Nathanael Mbuku's cross. Theo Bongonda had given DR Congo an earlier goal at half-time. Senegal's recent 3-1 victory over England is cited as evidence of strong preparation and favoritism heading into the competition. Gianni Infantino proposed changing the Africa Cup of Nations to a four-year cycle, arguing that such a shift would boost commercial returns, infrastructure investment, and refereeing standards across African football.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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