Prior to the election, Ahmad campaigned on the pledge to bring about change in African football as Hayatou’s 29-year reign as CAF boss was considered lethargic and limp.

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Four months into his tenure as CAF boss, Ahmad has engineered his first change in African football, with two major reforms to CAF’s premier tournament, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). At a two-day African Football Symposium last week, CAF proposed to increase AFCON teams from 16 to 24, making it every four years and shifting the tournament from January/February to June/July.

Two of these proposed changes- AFCON team from 16 to 24 and switch from January/February to June/July were confirmed at CAF Extra-Ordinary Assembly in Rabat, Morocco on Friday, July 21. As wonted with any change, reactions have trailed the new AFCON reforms.

For CAF it’s about money, maybe the development and wildly spread of football across Africa comes after. But money is the goal. A bigger AFCON simply means more money for CAF.

Clearly following in the footsteps of UEFA who only last year had their first 24-team Euro, CAF are aiming for the same thing, huge profit.

According to , revenue at Euro 2016 increased by 34% to $2.13 billion compared to Euro 2012. The additional 20 matches meant more broadcasters buying television rights. In General, UEFA recorded a profit of $917 million from Euro 2016. In Euro 2012, the got $724.

The increase in profit also means an increase in team prize money, increase to fees for clubs to release their players, increase of the participation fee for each team and their federations. That’s where the Federations also profits from the increase which in turns helps in the development of football in their respective countries. With the 24-team format, more countries have the chance to get this participation fee.

The expansion of Euro, however, had its own share of criticism as many analysts pointed out the decline of the quality of play at Euro 2016 because of football minnows in the tournament. The success of the likes of Wales and Iceland, however, defeats that argument as the emergence of underdogs makes the whole tournament thrilling.

The challenges of hosting the AFCON have been dimmed a dozen even with the 16-team format. A 24-team AFCON would present even bigger difficult tasks. There are already questions if Cameroon can go ahead and host the first 24-team AFCON in 2019.

Weather:

The weather is a big problem in all the regions in Africa in the summer. The north too hot, the west and east too wet and the south too cold. How can countries comfortably host the AFCON during these periods?

To be fair, only a few countries can afford to host a successful AFCON with the tough weather challenges. But those who manage to host it, should be given the rights while other countries work on their stadiums and infrastructures to get hosting rights. With the improvements to get hosting rights, countries will then get better stadiums and facilities which will further improve football in those regions.

Countries over the years have had problems getting European clubs to release their players, this problem is also gone.

For the fans, a 24-team AFCON means more games and more fun. Bar the Confederation Cup this summer,  football fans were bored without any tourney and with the anxiousness which the transfer window brings, it wasn’t a fun summer. A summer AFCON will also solve this problem.

Nothing is perfect, a 24-team AFCON sure has its challenges but in the end, nobody loses.