Every Four Years Is Difficult— Eric Chelle Explains Why AFCON Should Be Held Every Two Years

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has thrown his weight behind calls for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to return to its traditional two-year schedule, arguing that more frequent tournaments would help African national teams improve and compete more effectively on the international stage.

The Franco-Malian tactician believes that staging the continental competition every two years would give teams more opportunities to develop players, gain valuable experience and test their abilities against strong opposition.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Chelle made his position known during an interview with SABC Sport, where he argued that waiting four years between AFCON tournaments could make it more difficult for national teams to sustain progress.

“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,” he said.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) had previously announced plans to move AFCON from its traditional biennial format to a four-year cycle. However, CAF president Patrice Motsepe recently indicated that the decision could be reconsidered, reigniting discussions about the tournament’s future schedule.

Chelle, who previously coached Mali at the 2023 AFCON before taking charge of Nigeria at the 2025 edition, believes regular participation in major competitions would give African teams an advantage in their quest to improve their overall performance.

The Super Eagles manager also argued that more frequent AFCON tournaments would allow African nations to compete in two major continental competitions within a period when teams from other regions might participate in only one.

According to Chelle, regular exposure to high-level matches would help players gain experience while enabling coaches to strengthen their teams’ tactical organisation, technical quality and overall competitiveness.

Beyond football development, the coach highlighted the potential economic benefits of hosting AFCON more frequently. He noted that the tournament can attract tourists, support local businesses and generate revenue for host nations.

His comments have added to the growing debate over CAF’s proposed four-year schedule, with the competition’s future format remaining a subject of discussion among stakeholders in African football.