AFRICAN SIDES URGED TO ADAPT TO CYCLE

Smaller teams get fewer chances to shine with 4-yearly Afcon but some see positives

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The decision by African football bosses to change the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) from a biennial competition to a tournament held once every four years has drawn mixed reactions across the continent, with some seeing it as simply caving in to pressure from European clubs and FIFA, football's world governing body.

Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe made the landmark announcement following a meeting with FIFA chiefs in Rabat on Dec 20, one day before the Afcon kicked off in Morocco.

The next edition is set for Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in 2027. Motsepe said another Afcon will be in 2028, after which the tournament will be held in four-year cycles.

It is a radical shift for a competition typically held at two-year intervals since the first edition in 1957, and the money generated by Afcon is crucial to the finances of national federations.

To that end, the creation of a new African Nations League - modelled after Europe's UEFA Nations League - is seen as a way of boosting coffers instead. It is set to take place annually from 2029.

Motsepe's announcement has generated controversy even within CAF.