ACCRA (Ghana), Jan 19: FIFA president Sepp Blatter said a solution to the controversy over the timing of the African Nations Cup finals must be found.

Blatter is keen for the tournament to conform with the international calendar and with most of the other continental championships, which are held every four years and during the off-season of the major club competitions.

The head of world soccer’s governing body said it was important the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which wants the finals played every other January, considered the condition of their footballers ahead of the 2010 World Cup.

“They have to consider the issue of having African players in the best shape for the World Cup and, to do so, it would be important to take away from them the stress of having to play in a Nations Cup the same year,” he told reporters on Saturday.“In 2010 the best African player will fight to be the African champions in the Nations Cup in Angola and so will have to climax their condition at this time.

“Then they have to return to their clubs in Europe to play in the Champions League, the UEFA Cup or even fight with their clubs to avoid relegation,” added Blatter. “Then they will again have to raise their conditioning for the World Cup.”“Maybe they will be a little tired. Maybe it is better to play the Nations Cup every odd years in the off-season.”

Blatter said the issue would be discussed by FIFA.

“We should find a different solution,” he said.

The timing of the Nations Cup, which includes a host of European-based players in the middle of their season, has been criticised by players like Samuel Eto’o, Michael Essien and El Hadji Diouf and several coaches.

CAF president Issa Hayatou said he would consider the suggestion but would not change the timing of the event until the middle of the year.

“That would be the end of African football,” said Hayatou, who said weather conditions across large parts of Africa in the middle of the year would not be right for a major tournament.

CAF has already set up its next three finals in 2010, 2012 and 2014 and late last year signed an eight-year extension to its marketing contract with French company Sport Five.—Reuters