Ahead of the election that ended his 28 years as Confederation of African Football president, Issa Hayatou today dismissed any possibility of changing the timing of the African Nations Cup, the Continent’s showpiece event, amid calls for it to be rescheduled to accommodate European clubs who lose their African players midway through the season. Hayatou said CAF would not “be dictated to by outside forces” and that the schedule was determined by climatic conditions. The dates of the tournament every two years in January invariably draw criticism from European clubs, who have to do without key African players at a crucial stage of the season. “Never sway from the path that has been pioneered,” Hayatou told African member associations as the organization celebrated its 60th anniversary ahead of the presidential ballot against Madagascan challenger Ahmad Ahmad.

Hayatou also stressed Africa expected to be awarded 10 places, double its current quota, in the expanded World Cup from 2026 “based on the level of development of football and considering what our continent means to FIFA.” In front of visiting FIFA president Gianni Infantino, with  whom there is no love lost, he also criticized the decision to close two of FIFA’s development offices in Africa before praising the new commercial and television partnership signed with Lagardere Sports of France which, he said, would guarantee $1 billion to African football over the next eight years. “We want to create an environment where Africans don’t have to travel abroad to attain their dreams.”