AFCON: towards a return to a biennial tournament

Just a few months after announcing that Africa’s most prestigious competition would be held every four years, the Confederation of African Football is already considering a return to the previous format.

Although the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced a few months ago that it wanted to change the Africa Cup of Nations from a tournament held every two years to one held every four years, the governing body is ultimately expected to reverse course. The reform even sparked a genuine backlash across the continent, given the central place this competition occupies in the African football calendar and culture.

Indeed, numerous observers denounced a decision that could undermine the visibility of national teams, reduce the revenue generated by the competition and deprive supporters of their major continental event. The criticism appears to have been heard.

CAF considering AFCON every two years

According to information from The Guardian, the Confederation of African Football is going to reverse this reform. A vote is expected as early as this Friday during a meeting of its executive committee in Cape Verde. The possibility was directly confirmed by Patrice Motsepe.

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Present at the CAF assembly, the president of the African governing body acknowledged that a return to an Africa Cup of Nations held every two years was indeed being considered. “We are studying the possibility of returning to an AFCON every two years. This matter is currently under review,” he said on Friday.

Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.

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AFCON - Africa Cup of Nations