The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reversed its plan to stage the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years and restored a two-year cycle.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced the executive committee’s unanimous decision in a statement reported on Friday.
Motsepe said the proposed Africa Nations League would take several years to generate the revenue and development benefits expected to support CAF competitions and its member associations.
The Nations League had been proposed as a biennial competition alongside the move to a four-year AFCON schedule. Motsepe said the decision to retain AFCON’s two-year cycle was intended to protect African football, its 54 member associations and African players employed by clubs outside the continent.
The announcement follows CAF’s earlier review of the tournament cycle at its strategy conference in Cabo Verde from 7 to 9 October. At that stage, Motsepe had discussed a possible return without announcing a final decision.
The next AFCON is scheduled for 2027, jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Sources: Channels Television; Vanguard
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