Nearly 90% of African football associations have reportedly urged the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to retain the Africa Cup of Nations every two years, putting pressure on the governing body to reconsider its decision to stage the tournament once every four years.
Sources within CAF told WinWin that the organisation had received recommendations from the majority of its member associations before the 13:00 GMT deadline on Wednesday. The responses reportedly favour a return to the previous schedule, reversing the decision taken by the CAF Executive Committee in December 2025.
Egypt and Algeria are among the countries supporting the proposal to maintain the biennial competition, with both federations raising concerns about the implications of changing the tournament’s frequency.
The Egyptian Football Association has formally communicated its position to CAF, arguing that moving to a four-year cycle could create significant financial and commercial difficulties for African football.
According to the report, Egypt believes the longer gap between tournaments could affect the confederation’s revenue streams if no alternative competition is introduced to fill the intervening years.
The proposed African Nations League, which was intended to provide a regular competition in years without the Africa Cup of Nations, has yet to be implemented. The Egyptian federation therefore considers the move to a four-year schedule a potential economic and marketing risk.
The federation also indicated that CAF could reconsider the decision reached at its Executive Committee meeting in Rabat last December.
Algeria backs the existing schedule
The Algerian Football Federation has also expressed support for retaining the Africa Cup of Nations every two years, according to WinWin’s sources.
However, Algeria has stressed the importance of holding the competition on its scheduled dates, avoiding the postponements that have affected several previous editions for different reasons.
The Algerian federation has also called for the proposed African Nations League to be abandoned, reinforcing its preference for preserving the existing format of the continental championship.
The growing support for a biennial tournament comes as CAF consults its member associations before making a final decision on the competition’s future.
Motsepe seeks a reversal of the decision
CAF president Patrice Motsepe is reportedly keen to reverse the decision to hold the Africa Cup of Nations every four years and restore the previous two-year cycle.
According to the information received by WinWin, Motsepe proposed gathering recommendations from member associations ahead of the CAF General Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria, on 21 November.
The governing body had asked each federation to indicate whether it supported returning to the existing schedule or implementing the four-year cycle alongside the proposed African Nations League.
The associations were required to submit their responses before 13:00 GMT on Wednesday, allowing CAF to compile their positions ahead of the upcoming meetings.
WinWin had previously reported on the consultations and the possibility of reversing the Executive Committee’s December 2025 decision. The final outcome was postponed until the General Assembly and the associated Executive Committee meeting in Nigeria.
CAF’s acting secretary general, Samson Adamu, is expected to include the federations’ responses and the competing proposals on the agenda for the Abuja gathering on 21 November.
The discussions are intended to help the governing body determine which format would best serve African football and its financial interests.
Hosting plans remain under consideration
The debate over the tournament’s frequency also has implications for future editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, including the competitions scheduled for 2028, 2032 and 2036.
Recent CAF Executive Committee meetings have addressed hosting arrangements for those editions, as well as commercial proposals submitted by companies interested in the tournaments.
However, Motsepe has reportedly declined to discuss the details while the confederation continues to consider the future schedule of the competition.
A reversal of the four-year cycle could require CAF to reopen the bidding process for countries seeking to host the tournament and establish new dates for future editions.
With the November 21 General Assembly approaching, the recommendations submitted by member associations are expected to play a central role in the discussions over whether the Africa Cup of Nations will continue every two years or move to a four-year schedule.
The reported backing from nearly 90% of member associations, including Egypt and Algeria, signals substantial opposition to the change. However, CAF’s final position will depend on the outcome of its deliberations and the decision reached by its governing bodies.
