The internal debate surrounding the scheduling of Africa’s biggest football spectacle has intensified after prominent members of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee publicly opposed returning the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to a two-year cycle!
The administrative pushback follows recent statements from CAF President Patrice Motsepe at the strategy conference in Cape Verde, where he confirmed that the governing body was actively reviewing a U-turn on its late-2025 decision to shift AFCON to a four-year format starting after 2028.
While fans and member associations across the continent have largely welcomed news of preserving the traditional biennial rhythm, senior officials—including Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya and Djibouti’s Souleiman Waberi—have raised strong objections regarding calendar congestion and European club friction.
Critics within the committee point out that constantly altering the tournament’s frequency creates commercial uncertainty for broadcasters, disrupts long-term bidding structures for future hosts, and threatens the launch of the proposed annual African Nations League.
With European clubs routinely protesting player releases for winter editions, CAF leadership now finds itself walking a fine diplomatic tightrope between safeguarding African football identity and managing international club dynamics.
Should AFCON remain every two years, or should CAF stick to the four-year cycle? Drop your opinions and let us know in the comment section below!
