CAF considers return to biennial Africa Cup of Nations amid FIFA-UEFA tensions

Home Home Latest News Latest News World Footaball World Footaball Ghana Players Abroad Ghana Players Abroad Ghana Premier League Ghana Premier League National Teams National Teams Videos Videos Black Stars Black Stars Transfer News & Rumours Transfer News & Rumours Kotoko Kotoko Hearts Of Oak Hearts Of Oak CAF considers return to biennial Africa Cup of Nations amid FIFA-UEFA tensions 10 October 2026 Share this with Email Share this with Facebook Share this with Twitter Share this with Whatsapp The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is considering reversing its decision to stage the Africa Cup of Nations every four years, less than 10 months after announcing the reform.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe confirmed on Friday in Cape Verde that restoring a biennial tournament was among the options now being examined. The potential change marks a significant shift from the organisation’s previous position, when it strongly defended moving to a four-year cycle.

Journalist Romain Molina believes the decision announced in December 2025 was driven largely by international political considerations rather than the interests of African football.

In a video published on his YouTube page, Molina said FIFA had been seeking to accommodate UEFA and Europe’s leading clubs, which have regularly objected to releasing their African international players every two years for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Moving the tournament to a four-year schedule would have reduced the frequency with which clubs lost players to international duty and, according to Molina, represented a concession to European football.

The reform immediately attracted criticism from several figures within African football. Some argued that it had been adopted without sufficient consultation with national federations, while others warned that a less frequent tournament could reduce revenue and limit development opportunities across the continent.

CAF had presented the change as a major step forward. It was also linked to plans for an African Nations League, which was intended to offset the reduction in the number of Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

However, Molina says the balance of power between FIFA and UEFA has changed sharply in recent months.

He claims FIFA previously had reasons to reassure European football’s governing bodies and clubs, but that relations have since deteriorated to such an extent that the world governing body no longer needs to offer the same concessions.

Against the backdrop of what Molina describes as “total war” with UEFA, FIFA is alleged to have indicated to CAF that a return to the traditional two-year cycle would no longer be a problem. Molina believes such a move would also serve to challenge the interests of European clubs as the dispute between the two organisations continues.

He argues that African football is once again being used in wider international alliances and rivalries, rather than decisions being based primarily on the continent’s own priorities.

Molina has also pointed to financial considerations. He says a majority of African football officials support retaining a biennial Africa Cup of Nations because of the income generated by the competition.

Motsepe firmly rejected claims on Friday that CAF takes instructions from either FIFA or UEFA. He said the organisation’s priority remained protecting the interests of African football.

The possible reversal creates an immediate contradiction: less than a year after CAF described a four-year Africa Cup of Nations as necessary, it is now considering a return to the previous format.

No final decision has been announced, but the latest development is likely to renew questions about the independence of the continental governing body.