CAF reviewing four-yearly Africa Cup of Nations, may revert to every two years
CAF president Patrice Motsepe said on 9 October that the body is considering returning the Africa Cup of Nations to a two-year cycle, less than a year after announcing a four-year schedule.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe said on Friday 9 October that CAF is discussing returning the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to a two-year cycle. CNAN “Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe said the organisation was discussing reverting to hosting the Africa Cup of Nations every two years.” Read at CNA ↗ Al JazeeraLC “is reappraising its decision to hold the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Mixed · 2He spoke at the final day of CAF's three-day strategy conference in Cape Verde, saying: "We have discussed things over the last few days and are looking at everything, including having the AFCON come back every two years." Al JazeeraLC “He was speaking at the final day of CAF's three-day strategy conference in Cape Verde.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ CNAN “Motsepe made the remarks at a CAF strategy conference in Cape Verde on Friday.” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 1Motsepe announced the four-year plan last December. According to CNA, finals would be held in 2027 and 2028, then in 2032, with four-year gaps after that, to make room for a new annual Nations League that he said would be more lucrative. CNAN “He announced in December that there would be Cup of Nations finals in 2027 and 2028, with the next one after that in 2032 and a four-year gap between tournaments to follow.”“This was to accommodate a new annual Nations League format that would fill up the calendar, which Motsepe said at the time would be more lucrative.” Read at CNA ↗
Left · 1Al Jazeera describes the change as a switch to a four-year cycle from 2028 that aligned AFCON with FIFA's international calendar. It says the decision rankled many at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, with some arguing it favoured European interests over African ones. Al JazeeraLC “Motsepe, who last December announced the biennial AFCON would switch to a four-year cycle from 2028”“rankled many at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, with some saying it was made with European wishes at heart to the detriment of African interests.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Centre · 1CNA reports that the four-year decision proved unpopular in many quarters. The tournament, first staged in 1957, has usually been played every two years. CNAN “CAF's decision to stage the continental championship every four years had proved unpopular in many quarters.”“The African continental championship, first staged in 1957, has usually been played every two years.” Read at CNA ↗ Left · 1Motsepe called it "nonsense, absolute rubbish" that CAF is dictated to by FIFA or UEFA. He said his first duty is to "protect, promote, and advance the interests of Africa" and that the original decision was taken "as Africa". Al JazeeraLC “it was “nonsense, absolute rubbish” that CAF was being dictated to by either the world or European governing body.”““My No. 1 job, my No. 1 duty is to protect, promote, and advance the interests of Africa,” he said.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗
Left · 1Al Jazeera adds that Motsepe, a South African billionaire and FIFA vice-president, reiterated CAF's "unanimous" support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Thursday. It also says he confirmed the 2027 Africa Cup will go ahead in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda despite French media reports of construction delays and some CAF members pushing to move it. Al JazeeraLC “he reiterated the 54-member body’s “unanimous” support for FIFA’s under-fire president Gianni Infantino”“Motsepe reaffirmed the 2027 Africa Cup will go ahead as planned in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda next year” Read at Al Jazeera ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Al Jazeera ties the possible reversal to Motsepe's defence of CAF's independence from FIFA and UEFA and to criticism of the four-year plan.
- Emphasis
- Motsepe's rejection of outside dictation, the criticism at the 2025 AFCON, support for Infantino, and doubts over the 2027 hosts.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the Nations League rationale or the 2027, 2028 and 2032 schedule.
- Charged language
- “nonsense, absolute rubbish”“appeared stung by the criticism”“under-fire”
- For example
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“Motsepe, a South African billionaire who is also a vice-president of FIFA, appeared stung by the criticism.” — Al Jazeera
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- CNA runs a short, factual brief on the review of the four-year decision.
- Emphasis
- The Nations League rationale, the announced schedule and the tournament's history.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Leaves out the FIFA/UEFA influence charge, the Infantino support and the 2027 hosting doubts.
- Charged language
- “proved unpopular in many quarters”
- For example
-
“CAF's decision to stage the continental championship every four years had proved unpopular in many quarters.” — CNA
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Motsepe said on 9 October that CAF is considering returning AFCON to a two-year cycle.
- He spoke at a CAF strategy conference in Cape Verde.
- The four-year cycle was announced last December and was criticised.
Where accounts differ
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How the four-year schedule is described
- Left
- Al Jazeera says AFCON would switch to a four-year cycle from 2028.
- Centre
- CNA says finals would be held in 2027 and 2028, then 2032, with four-year gaps after.
Patrice Motsepe person
Says CAF is looking at everything, including a return to two-yearly AFCON. He denies FIFA or UEFA dictate to CAF and says he acts in Africa's interests.
“we are looking at everything, including having the AFCON coming back every two years,” Motsepe said. “We’re very clear.”” — Al Jazeera
Confederation of African Football organisation
Held a strategy conference in Cape Verde where the AFCON cycle was discussed. No final decision has been announced.
“Motsepe made the remarks at a CAF strategy conference in Cape Verde on Friday.” — CNA
Left1 article
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Africa Cup of Nations may stay as a biennial event, says CAF chief Motsepe
Mixed Presents the review as a response to criticism and to claims of European influence, alongside Motsepe's defiance and hosting doubts.
Centre1 article
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CNAN ·
CAF reviewing decision to play Africa Cup of Nations every four years
Neutral Concise report of Motsepe's remarks with background on the four-year plan and Nations League.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 9 Oct 16:39 First CNAN CAF reviewing decision to play Africa Cup of Nations every four years
- 9 Oct 22:17 +5h 39m Al JazeeraLC Africa Cup of Nations may stay as a biennial event, says CAF chief Motsepe
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.