Politics · India Bureau
CAF reconsidering biennial Africa Cup of Nations format, says Motsepe
African football's governing body is revisiting its decision to expand the Africa Cup of Nations cycle from two years to four years, CAF president Patrice Motsepe announced Friday. Motsepe rejected suggestions that the continental confederation was bowing to pressure from FIFA or UEFA.
LSN India ·
The Confederation of African Football is reassessing the format change it announced last December, which would have shifted the Africa Cup of Nations to a four-year cycle beginning in 2028. The move aimed to align African football's marquee tournament with FIFA's international match calendar.
Motsepe, a South African billionaire and FIFA vice-president, defended CAF's autonomy in making such decisions. "My No. 1 job, my No. 1 duty is to protect, promote, and advance the interests of Africa," he stated Friday, characterizing claims of external influence as "nonsense, absolute rubbish."
The original decision had sparked significant backlash among African football stakeholders, particularly during the Africa Cup tournament in Morocco. Critics argued that prioritizing alignment with the European and global football calendar came at the expense of African interests and the competition's established traditions.
Motsepe's comments Friday suggest CAF may reconsider the four-year format following the wave of criticism from continental stakeholders who valued the biennial structure of one of world football's most prestigious continental championships.