Côte d’Ivoire coach Hervé Renard has voiced his support for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be held every two years, arguing that a four-year cycle would be too long for Africa’s flagship football tournament.
Renard believes maintaining the competition’s traditional biennial format would be the best approach, allowing the tournament to retain its regular place on the international football calendar.
“I think returning to holding the Africa Cup of Nations every two years is excellent, and the tournament should continue as it did in the past,” Renard said.
“Hosting the tournament every four years is far too long, in my view. However, that is just my personal opinion.”
The French tactician’s comments come amid discussions about the tournament’s future scheduling and the implications of changes to its frequency for African football.
AFCON has traditionally been staged every two years, providing national teams with regular opportunities to compete for continental honours while giving players and supporters a recurring showcase of African football talent.
Renard’s position reflects his preference for preserving that tradition, with the coach suggesting that extending the interval between tournaments to four years would be excessive.
However, he was careful to clarify that his remarks represented his personal opinion rather than an official position.
The debate over AFCON’s frequency remains significant for the Confederation of African Football (CAF), as the governing body considers the tournament’s place within an increasingly congested international football calendar.
