The Confederation of African Football is reconsidering its recent decision to extend the Africa Cup of Nations to a four-year cycle, with CAF President Patrice Motsepe indicating the organisation may revert to hosting the prestigious tournament every two years.
Strategic Review Underway
Motsepe revealed the review during a strategy conference held in Cape Verde, signalling that the continental body is actively reassessing the tournament’s scheduling structure. “We are looking at everything, including having the Afcon coming back every two years. We are very clear, the matter is being reviewed,” Motsepe stated, emphasising the seriousness with which CAF is approaching the decision.
Shifting Tournament Calendar
The move to examine reverting the Africa Cup of Nations to its former two-year cycle marks a significant shift in direction for CAF’s tournament planning. The four-year format had been implemented as part of broader restructuring efforts, but the organisation’s willingness to reconsider demonstrates flexibility in response to stakeholder concerns and strategic considerations affecting African football.
The review process underscores CAF’s commitment to evaluating what works best for the continental competition, which remains one of the sport’s most competitive and celebrated tournaments. By opening discussions about the tournament’s frequency, CAF is acknowledging that the scheduling decision carries substantial implications for African national teams, clubs, and the football calendar across the continent.