African Football Federation Reverses Four-Year Cup Cycle

The Confederation of African Football, known as CAF, voted unanimously on Friday to reverse a recent decision to move the Africa Cup of Nations to a four-year cycle. The organization will continue holding the tournament every two years. This move restores the previous schedule after a brief period of uncertainty regarding the competition's timing.

The timeline for this change began in December of last year. At that time, CAF announced that the Africa Cup of Nations would shift to a four-year interval starting in 2028. The stated goal was to align the African calendar with FIFA’s international schedule. This shift also paved the way for the inaugural African Nations League in 2029.

The December decision sparked criticism within the African football community. Many stakeholders in Morocco, where the current Cup is being held, argued the change favored European interests over African ones. In October, CAF indicated it was reconsidering the matter.

Patrice Motsepe, the confederation’s president, issued a statement explaining the rationale behind the reversal. He said the two-year format aims to protect the interests of football in Africa and its 54 member associations. Motsepe also cited concerns for African players who work for clubs outside the continent.

Motsepe noted that the proposed African Nations League would take several years to generate substantial financial and developmental contributions. He argued that waiting would hinder the ability of CAF competitions to become globally competitive and self-sustaining.

The next Africa Cup of Nations is scheduled to proceed as planned in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda next year. Subsequent tournaments are set for 2028, 2031, and 2033. Motsepe explained that the 2030 FIFA World Cup year will likely be skipped for the final AFCON tournament, following FIFA tradition regarding national team competitions in World Cup years.