Comoros president Athouman questions plan to stage AFCON every four years

Comoros Football Federation president Saïd Ali Athouman has expressed surprise at plans to change the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from a biennial tournament to a competition held every four years.

The proposal, announced by Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe in December 2025, is reportedly being reconsidered amid growing calls for the tournament to retain its traditional two-year cycle.

Athouman told Afrik-Foot that the proposed change had caught the Comoros football authorities off guard, highlighting the strong attachment to AFCON across the continent.

“We were surprised to learn about this reform that would change the final tournament to every four years,” he said.

“You know that in Africa, there is a strong attachment to AFCON and to the fact that it is held every two years.”

Motsepe announced the proposed reform ahead of the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, with the plan intended to introduce a four-year cycle from 2028.

However, almost a year after the announcement, the proposal is reportedly being reconsidered, with questions emerging over its potential impact on African football and the significance of the continent’s flagship international competition.

AFCON has traditionally been staged every two years, giving national teams regular opportunities to compete for continental honours while providing players, coaches and supporters with a major international football event.

A change to a four-year cycle would reduce the frequency of the tournament and alter the international calendar for African national teams.

Those who favour retaining the existing format point to the competition’s importance to African football, including its role in developing national teams, creating opportunities for players and sustaining interest in the international game.

The debate also comes amid wider changes to CAF’s competition calendar, as the organisation considers how best to structure its tournaments and accommodate the demands of international football.

Motsepe is reportedly expected to put the proposal to a vote at the CAF General Assembly in Nigeria on 21 November.

The meeting could prove decisive in determining whether the proposed reform moves forward or whether AFCON continues to be held every two years.

Athouman’s comments underline the reservations among some African football stakeholders about changing a tournament that has long been central to the continent’s football identity.

The outcome of the discussions will be closely watched by national associations, players, coaches and supporters as CAF weighs the future format of its flagship men’s national-team competition.