CAF's president says a verdict on returning AFCON to its biennial rhythm is coming soon, with member associations largely backing the switch.
African football's biggest stage may be about to get its old heartbeat back. CAF president Patrice Motsepe says a decision on returning the Africa Cup of Nations to a two-year cycle will be announced very soon, and he made clear which way the wind is blowing.
Speaking in an interview in Doha on Thursday, Motsepe said CAF has been flooded with submissions from its member associations, with strong support for scrapping the four-year model. He added that a return to the biennial format is something he has personally favoured all along.
The review was flagged a few weeks ago in Cape Verde, where Motsepe announced that CAF would revisit its earlier call to stage the tournament every four years. Since then, he says, the correspondence has been plentiful and the message consistent. "We will take the right decision," he stressed, expressing confidence in the outcome.
The stakes are huge for the continental calendar. A switch back to every two years would reshape how federations plan, how clubs manage the release of their stars, and how fans across Africa and the diaspora get their fix of continental glory. Expect the debate to stay loud until CAF makes its final call.
