The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has acknowledged shortcomings in how it communicated its decision to change the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from a biennial to a four-year cycle, but insists the move remains in the best interest of African football. CAF president Patrice Motsepe, speaking on Saturday, said the organisation should have better prepared stakeholders for the decision, which was announced last month and attracted widespread criticism. Some African football figures had claimed the move was influenced by FIFA, whose president Gianni Infantino previously advocated a four-yearly AFCON.
Motsepe dismissed suggestions of external pressure, stressing that the decision was taken independently by CAF and would take effect after the 2028 tournament. He confirmed that AFCON would be staged every four years thereafter, alongside the introduction of an African Nations League in 2029. Addressing journalists ahead of the AFCON final between Morocco and Senegal in Rabat, Motsepe said the reforms would strengthen the game on the continent, adding that African football must be driven by confidence in its own decisions rather than perceived influence from global bodies.