The Africa Cup of Nations is staying on its two-year schedule, full stop. The Confederation of African Football has reversed a decision it made just last December, confirming that the tournament will not be moving to a four-year cycle after all.
The U-turn is significant because the shift to every four years had seemed like a done deal only months ago. Fans, players, and football administrators across the continent had been bracing for a longer wait between tournaments, so this reversal comes as a genuine surprise.
For supporters who grew up with the rhythm of Afcon every two years, the news will feel like a reprieve. The tournament is one of the most emotionally charged events in African sport, and the idea of stretching that excitement thin over a four-year gap clearly did not sit well in the end.
What exactly changed CAF's mind in such a short window of time? That is the question worth watching as more details emerge from the confederation.
Originally published by BBC Africa.