CAF asks member associations to decide between two-year and four-year AFCON

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has asked its 54 member associations to state whether the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) should continue to be held every two years or move to a four-year cycle.The associations have until Wednesday, October 28, to submit their positions as the debate over the future of Africas flagship international football tournament gathers momentum.Early indications suggest that many member associations may favour retaining the existing biennial format, although the final positions are expected to inform further discussions on the competitions scheduling.The consultation follows plans announced by CAF president Patrice Motsepe in December 2025 to move AFCON to a four-year cycle from 2028.The proposed change forms part of wider efforts to review African football competitions and ease pressure on an increasingly congested international football calendar.However, reported opposition to the proposal has prompted a reassessment of the plans, leaving the future frequency of the tournament uncertain.Why some associations want to retain the two-year cycleSupporters of the current format argue that staging AFCON every two years provides more opportunities for countries to host the competition, invest in sporting infrastructure and benefit economically from the tournament.Hosting AFCON can encourage investment in stadiums, training facilities, transport networks and other infrastructure, while generating economic activity through tourism, job creation and increased business opportunities.The biennial schedule also gives national teams more frequent opportunities to compete for the continental title and allows players to represent their countries on one of African footballs biggest stages.For national associations, regular tournaments can provide incentives to strengthen football structures, develop players and attract commercial partners.AFCON also offers CAF and its member associations a recurring platform to secure sponsorship deals, broadcast agreements and international attention.However, these benefits must be balanced against the demands of the international football calendar, particularly for players who combine national-team commitments with increasingly busy club schedules.Four-year cycle could reshape African footballA move to a four-year schedule would represent a significant departure from AFCONs established tradition.Supporters of the proposal could argue that a longer cycle would give organisers more time to prepare each edition and bring the competition in line with the scheduling of major international tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup and the European Championship.However, holding AFCON every four years would reduce the number of editions staged over time, limiting hosting opportunities for African countries and reducing how frequently national teams could compete for the continental crown.The change would also have implications for players, coaches, sponsors, broadcasters and supporters who rely on the tournament as a regular showcase for African football.Questions have also been raised about the potential impact on other competitions, particularly the African Nations Championship (CHAN), which provides opportunities for players competing in their domestic leagues.Any restructuring of the continental calendar would therefore need to consider how to preserve development opportunities for locally based players and coaches.CAF raises concerns over revenueFinancial sustainability has emerged as a key consideration in the debate, with CAF highlighting the potential revenue implications of moving AFCON from a two-year to a four-year cycle.In its communication to member associations, the governing body indicated that reducing the frequency of its flagship competition would create the need for another tournament capable of generating income for CAF and its members.One proposal under consideration is the Africa Nations League Pan African, a competition intended to provide an alternative platform for national teams across the continent.According to the details outlined in the letter, the proposed competition would be similar to AFCON and would be staged every two years.However, CAF has cautioned that the tournament could take several years to generate significant revenue for the governing body and its 54 member associations.That raises concerns about a potential financial gap if AFCON moves to a four-year cycle before the proposed alternative becomes commercially established.CAF would consequently need to consider how to protect its revenue streams and those of its member associations during any transition to a new competition structure.CAF General Assembly could decide the way forwardThe issue is expected to feature prominently at the CAF General Assembly scheduled for November 21 in Nigeria.Motsepe is reportedly expected to put the proposal to a vote at the meeting, potentially giving member associations the opportunity to determine whether AFCON should retain its current two-year schedule or move to a four-year cycle.The outcome could have far-reaching consequences for the organisation of international football in Africa, the commercial value of the continents biggest national-team competition and the development opportunities available to participating countries.The proposed Africa Nations League Pan African is also likely to form part of the wider discussion over how CAF can maintain competitive opportunities for national teams while protecting its financial position.A defining decision for African footballThe debate over AFCONs frequency goes beyond scheduling, touching on the tournaments traditions, its role in football development and its contribution to the financial stability of African football.Retaining the biennial format would preserve the competitions established rhythm, provide countries with more frequent hosting opportunities and maintain a regular source of revenue for CAF and its member associations.Moving to a four-year cycle, meanwhile, could ease pressure on the international calendar but would require CAF to find sustainable ways of replacing the revenue and opportunities lost through fewer editions.The proposed Africa Nations League Pan African could provide an alternative, although CAFs concerns about the time needed for the competition to generate significant income suggest that any transition would require careful planning.Member associations must now submit their positions by October 28, ahead of the expected discussions at the CAF General Assembly.Their responses could prove decisive in determining whether AFCON maintains its traditional two-year cycle or enters a new era under a four-year schedule.



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