Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has backed calls for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to return to its traditional two-year cycle, arguing that more frequent tournaments would accelerate the development of African football.
The Franco-Malian coach believes regular continental competition would give national teams more opportunities to improve their standards, develop players and challenge stronger opponents on the international stage.
“For me, it’s perfect because when you want to improve, having one tournament every four years is difficult. So, having a tournament every two years now is perfect, so we can continue to improve,” Chelle told SABC Sport.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) had announced plans to switch AFCON to a four-year schedule. However, CAF president Patrice Motsepe has recently suggested that the decision could be reconsidered, reigniting discussions about the tournament’s future.
Chelle, who guided Mali at the 2023 AFCON before taking charge of Nigeria at the 2025 edition, believes a biennial format would help African teams gain more experience and narrow the gap with other footballing nations.
“We can grow together; we will play two big tournaments instead of the other nations playing one tournament,” he added.
The Super Eagles boss also stressed that frequent high-level competition would better prepare African countries for the FIFA World Cup by improving their tactical awareness, technical quality and ability to perform under pressure.
Beyond football development, Chelle pointed to the economic opportunities associated with hosting AFCON more regularly, including tourism, business activity and revenue generation for host countries.
With CAF’s position potentially open to review, the debate over AFCON’s calendar continues. Chelle believes restoring the two-year cycle would give African football a stronger platform for sustained growth.
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