Ivory Coast coach Fae supports the move from AFCON to every four years

Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae has backed the decision to play the Africa Cup of Nations every four years instead of two, saying the change could benefit the development of football on the continent.

“It can be a good thing if we also do what we need to do for the development of African football,” he told AFP.

The Cup of Nations has almost always been held at two-year intervals since its first edition in 1957, but Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe announced the change on the eve of the ongoing tournament in Morocco.

Motsepe said the tournament would continue every four years after the next two editions scheduled for 2027 and 2028, a decision that has been heavily criticized by some on the continent who see it as bowing to pressure from leading European clubs and FIFA.

He said an annual African Nations League – modeled on the UEFA Nations League – would instead be introduced to boost national federations’ coffers.

“We are now fortunate that in Africa we have better infrastructure, better structured teams and better players, most of whom play for the best teams in Europe,” added Fae, who led the Elephants to the AFCON title in 2024.

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“Holding the AFCON every four years would mean that in addition to the World Cup, there would also have to be a major tournament every two years, but there still needs to be a major competition in Africa, such as the planned Nations League.

“Then we could have matches every year between teams like Morocco and Senegal, or Ivory Coast against Tunisia and Algeria against Mali.

“And I don’t think this would disadvantage the smaller countries because I don’t know that losing games 5-0 or 6-0 really raises the level of African football.

“If they play against other teams of their level with the aim of getting promoted, I think everyone will be a winner.”

Meanwhile, Fae admitted that retaining the AFCON crown in the ongoing edition in Morocco is a tough task for his team.

Ivory Coast has already advanced to the last sixteen before playing its last group match against Gabon on Wednesday.

“There are eight or nine teams with rosters that can win it, and I feel like teams play us differently because we are the reigning champions,” Fae admitted.

“That makes it even more difficult, but we are motivated to go all the way and we are also confident.”

Published on December 30, 2025