The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced that the Africa Cup of Nations will be held biennially, starting from next year. This decision was made during a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee, which was held on Thursday. The decision was made with the unanimous agreement of the member associations. CAF President Patrice Motsepe had previously announced that the Executive Committee would review its decision to hold the tournament every four years.
The decision to hold the Africa Cup of Nations every four years was made last year and was set to take effect from 2028. However, CAF has now reversed this decision, citing the need to maintain the tournament's current format. The Africa Cup of Nations is one of the most prestigious football tournaments in Africa, featuring national teams from across the continent. The tournament has a rich history, dating back to 1957.
The change in format is expected to have significant implications for African football. By holding the tournament every two years, CAF aims to provide more opportunities for national teams to compete and for players to gain international experience. This move is also expected to boost the profile of African football globally.
CAF's decision to hold the Africa Cup of Nations biennially is also seen as a response to the growing popularity of the tournament. The 2023 edition of the tournament, which was held in Côte d'Ivoire, attracted a large global audience and generated significant revenue for CAF. By maintaining a biennial format, CAF hopes to build on this momentum and further establish the Africa Cup of Nations as a premier international football tournament.
The Africa Cup of Nations has a long history of showcasing African football talent. The tournament has produced some of the continent's most iconic players, including Egyptian legend Mohamed Barakat and Ghanaian star Abedi Pele. By maintaining a regular schedule for the tournament, CAF aims to provide a platform for emerging talent to shine.
Egypt is one of the most successful teams in Africa Cup of Nations history, having won the tournament seven times. The Egyptian national team has a large following in Africa and is widely regarded as one of the continent's top footballing nations. The country's football federation has welcomed CAF's decision to hold the tournament biennially.
The 2024 Africa Cup of Nations is scheduled to take place in Côte d'Ivoire. The tournament is expected to feature 24 national teams and will be held from January to February 2024. CAF has confirmed that the tournament will be held biennially, starting from 2024.
Key points
- CAF has reversed its decision to hold the Africa Cup of Nations every four years, instead opting for a biennial format.
- The decision was made during a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee, which was held on Thursday.
- The Africa Cup of Nations is one of the most prestigious football tournaments in Africa, featuring national teams from across the continent.
