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The Confederation of African Football ,CAF, has reversed its earlier decision to stage the Africa Cup of Nations AFCON every four years, restoring the competition to its traditional two-year cycle.
The decision was unanimously reached at a CAF Executive Committee meeting held on Thursday.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe had recently indicated at the continent’s strategy conference in Cabo Verde that the Executive Committee would reconsider its previous decision to move AFCON to a four-year cycle.
The initial proposal was part of CAF’s broader plan to introduce a new Africa Nations League, which was expected to replace AFCON as the continent’s biennial national team competition.
However, CAF acknowledged that developing the proposed Africa Nations League into a globally competitive and financially self-sustaining tournament would take several years.
Motsepe Defends CAF Decision
Explaining the decision, Motsepe said the return to a two-year AFCON cycle was driven by the need to protect the interests of African football, CAF’s 54 member associations and African players competing for clubs outside the continent.
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He added that CAF was concerned about the lengthy period required for the proposed Africa Nations League to deliver the financial and football development benefits needed to strengthen African football.
“The decision by the CAF EXCO that the AFCON should take place every two years was based on advancing, protecting and promoting the interest of African Football and CAF’s 54 Member Associations, as well as the interest of African players employed by Football Clubs outside Africa,” Motsepe was quoted by CAFonline.
“We were also concerned by the several years required before the proposed new Africa Nations League Pan-African competition, (which was supposed to be identical to the current AFCON and take place every two years), could make the substantial financial and football development contributions for African Football and CAF competitions to be globally competitive and self-supporting.
“The next AFCON will take place in 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and I am confident that it will be very successful. The subsequent AFCONs thereafter will take place in 2028, 2031 and 2033.
“The forthcoming FIFA World Cup will take place in 2030 and in accordance with the FIFA tradition, the final tournament of the AFCON and other Confederations National Teams competitions may not take place during the year of the FIFA World Cup.
“The AFCON competition is also about celebrating African Football and Africa’s rich and diverse cultures, customs and traditions and bringing people together from Africa’s 54 Countries, the African Diaspora and throughout the world.
“The CAF EXCO decision is in the best interest of African Football and CAF’s 54 Member Associations and will also contribute significantly to the development and growth of football in Africa.”
By Adeboye Amosu
