CAF EXCO Members Oppose Biennial AFCON Format
Two members of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee, Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania and Souleiman Waberi of Djibouti, have reportedly opposed the continued staging of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every two years.
Their reported position comes amid growing discussions about the future format and scheduling of Africa’s flagship football competition, raising fresh questions about whether the tournament should retain its traditional biennial cycle.
Yahya, president of the Mauritanian Football Federation, and Waberi, head of the Djibouti Football Federation, are yet to publicly provide detailed explanations for their reported opposition.
The debate over AFCON’s frequency has long centred on its impact on domestic leagues, European clubs and players, who are often required to leave their teams for international duty during the competition.
Any change to the tournament’s schedule would have significant implications for national football associations, players, clubs, sponsors and broadcasters across the continent.
Both officials’ reported stance is particularly significant because of their positions on CAF’s Executive Committee, which plays a key role in decisions concerning the administration and development of African football.
However, it remains unclear whether Yahya and Waberi are acting together or have independently expressed reservations about the biennial format.
CAF has yet to clarify its position on their reported objections, and no official details have emerged regarding any proposed changes to AFCON’s scheduling.
The development adds another dimension to the ongoing debate over how best to balance the tournament’s commercial interests, sporting value and demands on African football stakeholders.
