Egypt national team coach Hossam Hassan has publicly criticised the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for moving the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from a two-year cycle to a four-year cycle.
The decision, confirmed by CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe, will come into effect after the 2028 tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. In the interim, CAF plans to introduce the biennial African Nations League.
Speaking to the media following Egypt’s 0-0 draw with Angola in the 2025 AFCON, Hassan expressed strong disapproval of the change.
“I am completely against the four-year cycle, which is clearly designed to accommodate European clubs and professional players. Can CAF change the format of the European Championship? Of course not,” he said.
The former Egyptian international added, “I am not satisfied with this decision at all. As an African and Egyptian former player, I believe these tournaments are being tailored to suit European clubs. There must be a strong stance from African national teams against CAF,” he added.
CAF’s announcement has ignited debate among fans and football stakeholders, many of whom argue that the tournament should remain on a biennial schedule.
