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Africa Cup of Nations to keep two-year cycle after reversal

The Confederation of African Football reversed its scheduling decision Friday and said the Africa Cup of Nations would continue every two years.

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CAF president Patrice Motsepe gestures while speaking into a microphone against a green and yellow backdrop.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe speaking into a microphone. The date and location of the pictured appearance are unconfirmed.

The Confederation of African Football reversed its scheduling decision Friday and said the Africa Cup of Nations would remain a tournament held every two years.

In December, shortly before the 2025 tournament began in Morocco, Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe had announced a switch to a four-year cycle starting in 2028.

He said that proposed change would make room for a new competition, the African Nations League, to be held for the first time in 2029.

After a meeting of CAF's executive committee in Cairo, Motsepe said there had been no objections to retaining the Africa Cup of Nations on its two-year cycle.

Motsepe said the decision was intended to protect and promote the interests of African football, CAF's 54 member associations and African players employed by clubs outside Africa.

He also cited concern that the African Nations League would need several years before delivering substantial financial and football-development contributions to help African football and CAF competitions become globally competitive and financially self-supporting.