CAF president Patrice Motsepe has strongly defended the decision to adjust the Africa Cup of Nations cycle, dismissing suggestions that the move came under pressure from FIFA and insisting that the changes serve the long-term interests of African football.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, on the eve of the AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco, Motsepe addressed criticism surrounding CAF’s decision to move the Africa Cup of Nations from a biennial format to a four-year cycle.
He made it clear that the governing body acts independently and follows a broader strategic vision.
“Stop believing that every time CAF makes a decision, it is under FIFA’s influence,” Motsepe said, pushing back against what he described as a persistent and damaging perception of African football governance.
Motsepe explained that CAF’s ambition extends beyond a single tournament cycle.
According to him, the confederation aims to create a structure that delivers top-level African competition every year, rather than limiting excitement to a single event every two years.
One of the central motivations behind the change relates to financial sustainability. Motsepe openly acknowledged the economic reality facing African football and stressed the need to increase revenue streams to support development across the continent.
“The revenue generated by AFCON remains significantly lower than the funding that will go into organizing the Nations League,” he said.
“Sometimes CAF must take decisions that appear unpopular today, but those decisions must protect the future of African football. I am convinced that African football will continue to grow.”
Motsepe also expressed frustration with the way CAF’s decisions often attract skepticism. He urged Africans to place greater trust in their own institutions and leadership.
“As Africans, we must free ourselves from the idea that CAF only acts under FIFA’s direction,” he said.
“There exists a long-standing agreement between FIFA and the confederations that prevents the organization of another major competition during a World Cup year.
We know we are making the right decisions, but the most important thing is that the African continent also believes in them.”
The CAF president clarified that the introduction of an annual Nations League reshapes the calendar rather than reducing opportunities for competition.
In his view, the combination of an AFCON every four years and a Nations League every year effectively delivers elite African football on an annual basis.
“In our vision, it will not be an AFCON every four years, but African competition every year,” Motsepe explained.
“A match between Ivory Coast and Cameroon played in front of their home supporters creates more excitement than staging the same fixture far from their fans. That is the level of entertainment the Nations League will provide.”
Motsepe concluded by reaffirming CAF’s commitment to decisions that prioritize growth, competitiveness, and stronger engagement with supporters across Africa.
