Caf's four-year Afcon switch ended $1bn deal, Guardian reveals

According to The Guardian, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) gave up a secured income deal worth at least $1bn over eight years after deciding to switch the Africa Cup of Nations from a biennial to a four-yearly event.

The newspaper reports that the change to a four-year cycle led to the abandonment of the 2025 bidding process. Caf has not had a long-term financial deal since 2019.

The revelation comes on the eve of the delayed Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, which begins on 5 July 2025. Caf president Patrice Motsepe told the Guardian in Rabat that a decision on the winning bid would be made “in due course” following an executive committee meeting.

The abandoned deal would have provided significant financial security for African football’s governing body, but the new competition calendar has reshaped its commercial outlook. Readers can follow related match highlights on this site.