"An economic suicide": CAF accused of putting AFCON at risk

The CAF's intention to shift the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to a four-year cycle starting from 2028 continues to divide African football. Presented as a strategic reform, this decision is seen by many observers as a risky gamble that could undermine the economic stability of the continental body.

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Former CAF executive Junior Binyam has voiced particular concern. While he does not question the feasibility, he challenges the rationale:

"The real question is the reasoning behind this decision. Is there any study showing that switching to a four-year cycle would allow CAF to generate more resources?"

According to him, AFCON remains a crucial financial pillar:

"It should be remembered that about ten years ago, AFCON accounted for around 40% of CAF's revenues. And I'm not sure that figure has fundamentally changed. Moving to a four-year cycle could be seen as economic suicide if it's not backed by clearly identified alternative revenue streams," he warned.

To compensate, CAF is discussing the creation of an African Nations League, but uncertainty remains. Binyam cautions:

"Switching to a four-year cycle could be seen as economic suicide" without clear guarantees.

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI |

Editor

Football web writer creating digital sports content with a focus on news, analysis and stories that reflect passion, accuracy and objectivity.

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AFCON - Africa Cup of Nations