Caf Abandons $1bn Deal After Switching Afcon Frequency
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has abandoned a deal worth at least $1bn in secured income over eight years due to its decision to change the Africa Cup of Nations from a biennial to a four-year cycle. This move, announced on 5 July 2025, impacts CAF’s financial future and could mean significant changes for African football.
In the wake of this change, CAF's executive committee, led by President Patrice Motsepe, unanimously decided in December 2025 to move Afcon onto a four-year cycle. This decision, made following evaluations of bids from multiple marketing and commercial rights companies, fundamentally changed what was available for bidding, leading to the abandonment of ongoing negotiations.
”This is a significant decision for African football,” Luxolo September, CAF’s head of communications, stated. “It does not allow for an 8-year deal with four Afcons; you could only get money for two Afcons over that period.”
No Long-Term Financial Security since 2019
A long-term financial security pact was last established in 2019, when CAF signed a $1bn deal with Lagardère. However, this agreement was terminated unilaterally by CAF's new leadership under Ahmad Ahmad and later settled in December 2022 for just over $50m before the 2022 World Cup.
Future Financial Challenges
The abandonment of the $1bn deal spells potential financial challenges for CAF, which has not had a long-term financial plan since 2019. Patrice Motsepe and his team now face the daunting task of securing sponsorships and deals that might be difficult to replicate given the altered tournament frequencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will CAF struggle to secure future deals?
Yes, with Afcon changing from biennial to four-year cycles, sponsors may find it less appealing to commit to longer-term contracts. The new deal landscape post-2025 will likely focus more on two competitions rather than the typical four, thus reducing potential revenue streams.