CAF asks member associations to choose 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 retain its traditional two-year cycle or move to a four-year schedule.

The associations have until Wednesday, 28 October, to submit their positions, as the debate over the future of Africa’s flagship international football tournament gathers momentum.

Early indications suggest that many member associations may favour retaining the existing biennial format, although their responses are expected to inform further discussions on the competition’s future.

The consultation follows plans announced by CAF president Patrice Motsepe in December 2025 to move AFCON to a four-year cycle from 2028.

The proposal formed part of broader efforts to review African football competitions and ease pressure on an increasingly congested international football calendar. However, reported opposition to the change has prompted renewed debate over its potential impact on the continent’s football development and finances.

• Why some associations want AFCON to remain biennial

Supporters of retaining the two-year cycle argue that regular editions of AFCON provide important opportunities for football development, economic growth and the promotion of African football.

The existing format allows more countries to host the tournament, creating opportunities to invest in stadiums, training facilities, transport networks and other sporting infrastructure.

Hosting AFCON can also stimulate economic activity through tourism, investment and job creation, while local businesses benefit from the arrival of teams, officials, supporters and international visitors.

A biennial schedule gives national teams more frequent opportunities to compete for the continental title and provides players with a regular platform to represent their countries at the highest level.

For national associations, the tournament can serve as an incentive to strengthen football structures and invest in their teams. It also offers CAF and its members recurring opportunities to attract sponsors, broadcasters and a global audience.

However, these benefits must be balanced against the demands of an increasingly crowded international calendar and the commitments of players competing for clubs around the world.

• Four-year cycle could reshape African football

Moving AFCON to a four-year schedule would represent a significant departure from the competition’s established tradition.

Supporters of the proposal could argue that a longer cycle would provide organisers with more time to prepare each edition and help reduce pressure on players and clubs.

A four-year format would also bring AFCON into line with the scheduling of major international competitions such as the FIFA World Cup and the European Championship.

However, the change would mean fewer editions over time, reducing hosting opportunities for African countries and the frequency with which national teams could compete for the continental crown.

The implications would extend to players, coaches, national associations, sponsors and supporters, many of whom regard AFCON as a vital platform for showcasing African football.

The debate also raises questions about how CAF can balance the demands of international competitions with club football commitments, particularly as players face increasingly congested schedules.

• CAF General Assembly to consider proposal

The issue is expected to feature prominently at the CAF General Assembly scheduled for 21 November 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 two-year cycle or move to a four-year schedule.

The outcome could have far-reaching consequences for the organisation of international football in Africa, as well as the commercial future of the continent’s biggest national-team competition.

Discussions are also expected to touch on other African competitions, including the African Nations Championship (CHAN), which provides a platform for players competing in their domestic leagues.

Preserving opportunities for locally based players and coaches has emerged as another consideration in the wider debate over the structure and frequency of continental competitions.

• CAF raises concerns over revenue

CAF has also highlighted the financial implications of moving AFCON from a two-year to a four-year cycle in its communication to member associations.

The governing body has indicated that reducing the frequency of its flagship tournament would create a need for another competition capable of generating revenue for CAF and its 54 members.

One proposal under consideration is the Africa Nations League Pan African, a competition intended to provide an alternative platform for African national teams.

According to the details outlined in the letter, the proposed tournament would be similar to AFCON and staged every two years.

However, CAF has cautioned that the competition could take several years to begin generating significant revenue for the governing body and its member associations.

This presents a potential financial challenge if AFCON moves to a four-year cycle before the alternative competition becomes commercially established.

CAF and its members could face a period of reduced income from the continental tournament without an immediate replacement capable of making up the shortfall.

Revenue generation and financial sustainability are therefore expected to be key considerations as member associations assess the proposed changes.

• A question of tradition and financial sustainability

The debate over AFCON’s frequency extends beyond scheduling, touching on the competition’s role in football development, commercial growth and the financial stability of African football.

Retaining the biennial format would preserve the tournament’s established rhythm, provide countries and players with more frequent opportunities to participate and maintain a regular source of revenue for CAF and its members.

A four-year cycle, meanwhile, would require CAF to reconsider how it finances its activities, maintains the commercial value of AFCON and creates opportunities for participating nations.

The proposed Africa Nations League Pan African could form part of the solution, but CAF’s warning about the time needed for the competition to generate significant income highlights the difficulty of replacing AFCON’s financial contribution immediately.

Member associations must now weigh the sporting, economic and commercial implications before submitting their positions by Wednesday, 28 October.

Their responses will help shape the debate over whether Africa’s flagship national-team tournament retains its biennial format or moves to a four-year cycle, a decision that could significantly influence the future direction of African football.