Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe has revealed that the Africa Cup of Nations could return to its traditional two-year cycle, confirming that African football leaders are reconsidering the proposed switch to staging the continent’s flagship competition every four years.
Speaking at the recent CAF strategy conference in Cape Verde, Motsepe disclosed that discussions were ongoing over the future scheduling of AFCON, with the possibility of restoring its biennial format firmly under consideration.
“We took a decision as Africa because of a whole lot of issues, but I can guarantee you, we discussed it over the last few days,” Motsepe said.
“We are looking at everything, including having the AFCON coming back every two years.”
His comments suggest that CAF is reviewing one of its most significant recent policy decisions, following the announcement of plans to move the competition to a four-year cycle after the 2027 edition.
The proposed change had generated debate over its potential implications for African football, including the competition’s commercial development, international calendar demands and opportunities for national teams to compete regularly at the highest continental level.
Motsepe emphasised that African football authorities were examining the available options before determining the most appropriate direction for the tournament.
“We’re very clear. We’re very clear,” he declared.
The CAF president also acknowledged that the original decision followed extensive discussions and commitments, which had influenced the governing body’s position at the time.
“There were all sorts of discussions and all sorts of promises, and when we looked at it at the time, we said, ‘Wow, this looks interesting,’” Motsepe explained.
His latest remarks indicate that the proposed four-year arrangement is not necessarily irreversible, although CAF has yet to announce a formal decision restoring the previous schedule.
The Africa Cup of Nations has traditionally been held every two years, providing regular opportunities for African countries to compete for continental honours.
For Motsepe, the message from Cape Verde is that CAF is keeping its options open, with a return to the familiar two-year AFCON cycle now firmly back on the agenda.
