CAF’s U-turn: Putting African Football First

T he Confederation of African Football (CAF), in its October 29, 2026 statement announ­ cing the decision to return to a two-year cycle for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), outlined the reasons for the U-turn. Protecting African Football When the decision was made to move AFCON to a four-year cycle, many people criticised it, with some openly stating that CAF was dancing to the tune of FIFA, the world football governing body, to the detriment of the people it was called upon to serve. Moving AF­ CON, CAF’s flagship competition, to a four-year cycle would have had negative implications for conti­ nental football, even if CAF focused on the expected financial contri­ butions of the African Nations League, which were evidently not well analysed especially as to what concerns the time it will take to be productive. A four-year cycle would have given players fewer opportunities to shine on Africa’s biggest football stage and given African national teams fewer chances to participate in, or even host, the prestigious competition. Evidently with these and other concerns in mind, the CAF Presi­ dent justified the U-turn by saying it was based on advancing, pro­ tecting and promoting the inte­ rests of African football and CAF’s 54 member associations, as well as the interests of African players employed by football clubs outside Africa. The release of players by foreign clubs during AFCON has always been a cause for concern, and the CAF President had raised this issue severally as he strived to find wor­ kable solutions. However, CAF considered it wise to remain true to its principles and find the best way to avoid conflicting interests. It is perhaps against this backdrop that Motsepe said that, in accor­ dance with FIFA tradition, the final tournament of AFCON and other confederations’ national-team com­ petitions may not take place during the year of the FIFA World Cup. Beyond football, the CAF President further explained the decision to make the U-turn was also based on the fact the AFCON competition is also about celebrating African Football and Africa’s rich and di­ verse cultures, customs and tra­ ditions and bringing people toge­ ther from Africa’s 54 countries, the African Diaspora and throu­ ghout the world. He clearly un­ derlined that, “The CAF EXCO’s decision is in the best interest of African Football and CAF’s 54 Mem­ ber Associations and will also contribute significantly to the de­ velopment and growth of football in Africa.” African Nations League: A Hasty Proposal? The Africa Cup of Nations is the financial engine of the Confede­ ration of African Football. Organi­ sing the co...