Is Africa's Decision to Play 24 Teams In AFCON Paying Off?

There were several critics of the additional number of teams in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament. They argued AFCON was being watered down and that more teams would lead to several poor games at a time when Africa was trying to grow its game. But opening the gates to several teams that would previously have found it difficult to qualify, resulted in a breathtaking group stage. Several teams that were assumed to be underdogs, upset bigger ones, and a powerhouse like Ghana failed to move beyond the group stage.

By the end of the group stage, the 34th (AFCON) was one of the most exciting and memorable tournaments in recent memory. This was particularly true of the performances of the continent's best players on the field.

Chuka Onwumechili writes for African Arguments that the decision to expand has had several repercussions beyond the field. The upsets also call into question the efficiency of the team ranking system and the importance of star players who compete in Europe. The results have had a dramatic impact on coaches too.

InFocus

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