Ivory Coast boss Hervé Renard wants AFCON back every two years as pressure grows on CAF to scrap its four-year cycle.
Africa's biggest stage is under threat, and one of its most decorated coaches has picked a side. Ivory Coast boss Hervé Renard has thrown his weight behind a return to a biennial Africa Cup of Nations, adding a heavyweight voice to the growing backlash against CAF's four-year plan.
The Confederation of African Football announced in December 2025 that AFCON would move to a four-year cycle starting with the 2028 edition. The decision landed badly with officials and fans across the continent, who see the tournament's rhythm as part of African football's heartbeat.
Now the door looks open for a U-turn. CAF president Patrice Motsepe has signaled the governing body could revisit the change, and reports say a proposal to restore the two-year schedule is set to go to a vote at CAF's ordinary general assembly in Abuja, Nigeria, on 21 November.
Renard, who has managed several African national teams, didn't hold back. He called the return to a two-year cycle excellent and said the tournament should carry on as it always has. A four-year wait, in his view, is far too long, though he stressed that this is his personal opinion.
All eyes now turn to Abuja. If the vote goes the way many on the continent hope, AFCON's traditional rhythm could be saved before the new format ever takes effect.
