The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is embroiled in a significant governance controversy after its decision to move the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) to a four-year cycle was allegedly pushed through without full consultation of its member associations.
A Decision Made Behind Closed Doors?
According to multiple federation presidents who spoke to the Guardian, the pivotal change – which will see the tournament shift from its traditional biennial format starting from the 2028 edition – was not properly debated. CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced the surprise decision on 20 December, catching many national football chiefs off guard.
Several presidents stated they were not formally informed prior to the announcement, learning of the proposal only through rumours. "The decision was already made," one anonymous federation president claimed. "They said it would be discussed in Morocco, but in the end there was no discussion." The move was reportedly confined to discussions within CAF's 24-member executive committee (ExCo) before being confirmed.
Statutory Breach Alleged and Defended
The controversy hinges on CAF's statutes. Critics argue that a change of this magnitude requires ratification by the general assembly of all 54 member associations. Legal experts with experience of CAF insist the executive committee acted "ultra vires" – beyond its powers – and that any such act is legally invalid.
However, CAF has defended the process. A spokesperson stated the ExCo members unanimously voted for the change and cited article 23.10 of its statutes, which designates the ExCo as the "supreme authority for all matters concerning Caf competitions". The spokesperson added that Motsepe later briefed all member association presidents.
Wider Repercussions for African Football
The decision has sparked fears about its impact on the continent's football development and finances. Constant Omari, a former CAF vice-president, warned of severe consequences. "Afcon is the biggest source of income for CAF," he said. "Having Afcon every two years allowed host countries to build real infrastructure... With four years, it will be much harder for [local players] – and we will also lose our major source of income."
Further concerns have been raised about the potential removal of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) from the calendar, a tournament for domestic-based players, which Omari said would be "a disaster for our local players".
The allegations also extend to external influence. Omari claimed the plan was first openly suggested by FIFA President Gianni Infantino at a seminar in Morocco in 2020, and that key decisions are driven by CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba under pressure from FIFA. Many federation presidents reportedly fear public criticism due to potential repercussions from CAF leadership.
