{
  "id": 17382430,
  "title": "Why has Caf abandoned plans to hold Afcon every four years?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/why-has-caf-abandoned-plans-to-hold-afcon-every-four-years",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-31T09:57:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/why-has-caf-abandoned-plans-to-hold-afcon-every-four-years/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is set to return to its traditional biennial format, after the Confederation of African Football (Caf) reversed its decision to hold the tournament every four years. President Patrice Motsepe announced the change, stating it was to \"advance, protect and promote\" the interests of African football. Despite Afcon being held every two years since 1957, the switch was controversial, with some arguing the global football calendar needed to be more synchronized. The tournament has been a major revenue generator for Caf, with profits reaching $114m (£85m) for the 2025 edition. An annual Africa Nations League, proposed as an alternative to a four-year cycle, has yet to deliver on financial expectations, having failed after one edition. The decision to revert to a biennial schedule was made without a general assembly vote, and Caf asked its 54 associations to choose between the new format or returning to the original schedule. The switch back to a two-year cycle is seen as a move to assert African influence in football, even as Fifa president Gianni Infantino pushes for greater African representation in the World Cup.",
  "summary": "After a shock announcement 10 months ago that the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) would be held every four years, the governing body of football on the continent has reversed course. The Confederation of African Football (Caf) will instead retain the tournament’s traditional biennial staging, with its president Patrice Motsepe saying the U-turn was based […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport Football",
        "title": "Why has Caf abandoned plans to hold Afcon every four years?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/why-has-caf-abandoned-plans-to-hold-afcon-every-four-years",
        "published": "2026-10-30T17:33:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}