The Africa Cup of Nations, the continent’s top football competition, will continue to be held biennially, reversing a plan to introduce a four-year cycle put forward by the Confederation of African Football.

Announcing the U-turn, CAF placed financial considerations at the heart of its reasoning. Patrice Motsepe, the South African billionaire who runs CAF and championed the shift, said the reversal was in the interest of the organization’s 54 member nations and African players who ply their trade abroad.

AFCON games have risen in global recognition over recent editions, expanding revenue streams for CAF. The most recent tournament recorded a 61% growth in European, Asian, and South American audiences over the 2024 edition, and a 35% rise in revenue from media rights from those markets, CAF said in March.