Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has backed calls for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to return to its traditional two-year cycle, describing the format as crucial to the development of African football.
The Franco-Malian tactician believes staging the continent’s biggest football tournament every two years would give African nations more opportunities to improve, develop players and compete against top-level opposition.
“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 move AFCON to a four-year cycle. However, CAF president Patrice Motsepe has recently indicated that the decision could be reviewed, reopening the debate over the competition’s future.
Chelle, who coached Mali at the 2023 AFCON before taking charge of Nigeria at the 2025 edition, believes more frequent tournaments would help African teams narrow the competitive gap with their international rivals.
“We can grow together; we will play two big tournaments instead of the other nations playing one tournament,” he added.
The Super Eagles coach also emphasised the importance of regular, high-level international competition in preparing African teams for the FIFA World Cup.
According to Chelle, a biennial AFCON would provide national teams with valuable competitive experience while helping players and coaches improve their tactical and technical abilities.
Beyond football development, the coach highlighted the potential economic benefits of hosting the tournament more frequently.
He pointed to opportunities for host countries to attract tourists, stimulate business activities and generate additional revenue through the competition.
With CAF reconsidering its position on the tournament’s schedule, Chelle’s comments have added to the debate over the future format of AFCON.
The Nigerian coach believes restoring the two-year cycle would provide African football with a stronger platform for sustained growth and development.
