Ghana football icon Asamoah Gyan has likened the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to the World Cup, highlighting the tournament’s significance for African players. Speaking to Rio Ferdinand, Gyan said, “Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is like a World Cup to me.”
Gyan, who has represented Ghana in several AFCON editions, called for a review of the tournament’s calendar, suggesting it be moved to the European off-season.
“It affects most of the clubs with African players. I believe it should get to a time that FIFA or CAF should make a decision that it should be played off-season,” he said.
The former Sunderland striker noted the impact on clubs: “You can see clubs at the top of the league table, and their players leave for AFCON in January, and they start dropping points.” Yet, he stressed AFCON’s importance: “AFCON is like a World Cup to me, and that is what every African footballer thinks.”