The Africa Cup of Nations will continue to be staged every two years after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) reversed its decision to move the tournament to a four-year cycle – a change welcomed by many supporters but criticised as evidence of uncertainty within the governing body.
Speaking on Canal+ Sport Afrique, Senegalese journalist Mansour Loum said the competition had become a “variable adjustment” in the wider power struggle between FIFA and UEFA.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe and the organisation announced in December 2025 that the Africa Cup of Nations would be held every four years, but later abandoned the plan. The reversal preserves the tournament’s traditional frequency while raising questions about the consistency of CAF’s strategy and accusations that it puts the interests of football’s global powers ahead of those of Africa.
Loum’s criticism centres not only on the schedule but also on how CAF decisions are made. He said the changes had not been approved in advance by the CAF Executive Committee and that several members had complained about the process.
He also questioned the changing justification for the tournament’s format. The move to a four-year cycle had been presented as an economic necessity, with greater scarcity expected to increase the competition’s commercial value. Those arguments now appear to have been set aside.
“The Africa Cup of Nations is homeless, without a fixed date,” Loum said, before offering a wider political assessment.
“I have the impression that CAF has become the armed wing of the war between FIFA and UEFA.”
A four-year tournament, potentially played in the summer, would have suited European clubs by reducing the likelihood of players leaving during their domestic seasons rather than for a winter edition. A return to a biennial competition, with possible tournaments in January or February, could instead renew tensions with clubs in Europe.
“CAF has therefore become the variable adjustment in this war being waged by FIFA and UEFA. Do our leaders see Africa’s interests?” Loum asked.
His comments come amid continuing tensions between Gianni Infantino and UEFA. Disputes over FIFA’s governance, its economic projects and the distribution of power among the confederations have contributed to a prolonged struggle in recent months.
There is no clear evidence that CAF’s reversals were directly caused by that conflict. However, the decisions have reinforced the impression among critics that the African body has struggled to establish and defend an independent position.
Under Motsepe, CAF’s perceived alignment with FIFA and Infantino has already attracted criticism. The Club World Cup also contributed to the seasonal change affecting the Africa Cup of Nations.
The competition has moved from winter to summer and back again, while its proposed frequency has shifted from every two years to every four and then returned to the original schedule. Didier Drogba was among those who supported a four-year cycle, but most African supporters are expected to welcome the biennial format.
The central issue, Loum argues, is not simply which schedule is best, but who makes these decisions, on what basis and in whose interests.
The Africa Cup of Nations is one of the continent’s most important sporting assets, and its future should be guided by a long-term vision for African football rather than international power struggles, he said.
