Is holding the Africa Cup of Nations every four years “completely wrong” or a “good call” for the continental game?

Afcon has often provided a shop window for players to secure lucrative, potentially life-changing transfers.

“We are the luckiest [generation] “Younger players will wait every four years to play in the Africa Cup of Nations,” Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traoré, who participated in his sixth Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, told BBC Sport Africa.

He added: “Some players will be more receptive to this decision, but on the other hand, others need this competition to show themselves to the world.”

The changes made by CAF also mean the death knell for the African Nations Championship (CHAN), a tournament reserved for local players.

The last two editions of the CHAN tournament have looked like ugly ducklings – with some countries not even making it into the qualifiers, an odd number of finalists, Morocco withdrawing from the 2022 edition due to diplomatic tensions, and the 2024 finals being postponed because the hosts were not prepared.

Motsepe described Chan as an “amazing money-loser”, but she helped launch the international careers of Moroccan striker Ayoub El Kaabi and Senegalese midfielder Lamine Kamara, who both played in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.

Meanwhile, winning coach Papi Thiaw has gained experience in leading the Teranga Lions to the 2022 title.

Meanwhile, when it comes to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, no mention has been made of a potential move to a four-year cycle.

Former South African midfielder Amanda Dlamini believes women’s football in Africa is “different” and is still trying to establish itself as a “product”.

“I hope it lasts two years, because if it lasts four years they will forget us,” she told BBC Sport Africa.