The Confederation of African Football has restored the AFCON two-year cycle, less than a year after announcing it would abandon it. The CAF Executive Committee approved the reversal unanimously, and president Patrice Motsepe confirmed the decision on Thursday, 29 October 2026, after the confederation’s Strategy Conference in Cabo Verde on 7–9 October.

The principals are not two clubs and an agent. They are CAF, its 54 member associations, and — by CAF’s own account — the African players employed by clubs outside the continent. The 2027 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations stays with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Why CAF Reversed Course On The AFCON Two-Year Cycle

The stated reason is the timing of money, not nostalgia. CAF had planned an Africa Nations League to run every two years and replace AFCON, which it intended to move to a four-year schedule. That plan was announced in December 2025.

By October, CAF’s assessment had changed. The confederation concluded the Nations League would need several years before it could generate the resources to make African football’s competitions globally competitive and financially self-sustaining.

Motsepe’s explanation, published on CAF’s website, put the member associations at the centre: “The decision by the CAF EXCO that the CAF AFCON should take place every Two Years was based on advancing, protecting and promoting the interest of African Football and CAF’s 54 Member Associations, as well as the interest of African players employed by Football Clubs outside Africa.

He added: “We were also concerned by the several years required before the proposed new Africa Nations League Pan-African competition … could make the substantial financial and football development contributions for African Football and CAF competitions to be globally competitive and self-supporting.” The announcement was carried by Punch alongside CAF’s own statement.

The Money Question CAF Would Not Defer

Read plainly, the reversal is a hedging decision. AFCON is a revenue engine that exists now. The Nations League was a bet on revenue that would arrive later. CAF chose to keep the engine running while leaving the bet on the table.

That matters because the four-year plan had high-level backing. FIFA president Gianni Infantino urged CAF to move AFCON to a four-year cycle in early 2020, and in December 2025 Motsepe announced exactly that, as ESPN reported. CAF this week also reaffirmed its support for Infantino despite outcry over botched plans for a FIFA commercial subsidiary managed with private investors. The reversal is therefore a rare case of CAF setting its calendar against the stated preference of the FIFA president.

What The Published Calendar Actually Says

The restored biennial format, as published, does not produce a two-yearly tournament. CAF’s confirmed editions are 2027, 2028, 2031 and 2033. The step from 2028 to 2031 is three years.

CAF’s justification is the World Cup. In line with FIFA tradition, continental national-team finals should not fall in a World Cup year, and the 2030 tournament is the constraint. Morocco World News noted that the announced dates mean some editions will be separated by three years despite the biennial label.

This is the part of the story that changes how the decision should be read. The guarantee CAF has given its members is not a fixed two-year rhythm. It is a fixture list in which the gaps are dictated by FIFA’s calendar.

What It Means For Nigeria And The Super Eagles

For Nigeria, the gain is structural rather than immediate. A flagship continental finals retained on the calendar keeps qualifying windows, broadcast inventory and sponsorship value in place — the assets the Nigeria Football Federation plans around. A four-year AFCON would have thinned all three while the Nations League found its feet.

The 2027 host arrangement is the other variable. Motsepe said he was confident Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda would deliver, while acknowledging problems in venue preparations that he said would be addressed. His reference point was Cameroon, the 2021 host that was widely doubted before the tournament and, in his account, delivered.

The unsigned element is 2028. The bidding process for that edition is underway, according to ESPN’s reporting, which means the second instalment of the restored cycle currently has no host. Nothing about that is complete, and it should not be described as settled.

How Likely Is The AFCON Two-Year Cycle To Hold?

Near-term, close to certain. The vote was unanimous, the announcement is official, and the decision protects CAF’s most bankable asset. Nothing in the current record supports a second reversal before 2028.

Medium-term, less settled. The Nations League has been demoted, not cancelled, and the 2028 host is unresolved. If a future CAF leadership revisits the Nations League as a revenue source, the four-year argument returns with it. That is speculation and should be labelled as such — no source in CAF’s statement points to a renewed review.

Read as a business decision, the AFCON two-year cycle is CAF buying time: keeping the tournament that pays for African football while it waits to see whether a replacement can ever pay for itself. For Nigeria and the other 53 member associations, the practical instruction is to plan qualifying and squad cycles against published dates, not against the word biennial.

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About James Williams

James Williams is the Content Director at AfriLatest. With a background in journalism and a love for storytelling, he curates compelling content and multimedia that resonates with global readers. James is dedicated to maintaining AfriLatest as a trusted source for daily news, sports updates, and entertainment trends.

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Bills vs Raiders comes down to one simple question: can a banged-up Buffalo offense lean on the NFL’s fifth-best rushing attack against a Las Vegas defense that gives up 140.6 yards per game on the ground? The answer, based on the numbers and the injury report, is yes — but not without a fight.

The Buffalo Bills (4-1) visit the Las Vegas Raiders (3-2) on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, at 4:25 p.m. ET from Allegiant Stadium. CBS has the broadcast, with Jim Nantz, J.J. Watt and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson on the call. You can stream it on Paramount+.

Buffalo arrives on a short week after beating the Los Angeles Rams 37-34 in overtime on Monday night. Las Vegas got hammered 45-17 at New England in Week 5. The Bills are favorites, but the matchup is closer than the records suggest.

Offense vs Offense: Josh Allen Carries Buffalo

Josh Allen has 15 total touchdowns in five games — seven passing and a league-high eight rushing. He has thrown for 1,249 yards with four interceptions and been sacked 10 times. The Raiders’ pass rush has 13.0 sacks, a top-10 total, so Allen will face pressure. Buffalo converts 50.0 percent of third downs, third in the NFL, and keeping Allen upright is how those drives continue.

James Cook has been the workhorse. He has 95 carries for 532 yards, third in the NFL, and five rushing touchdowns. No other Bills running back has more than four carries. Cook faces a Raiders run defense allowing 140.6 yards per game, among the bottom five in the league. That is the front he runs into.

Las Vegas moves the ball through the air. Kirk Cousins has 12 touchdown passes, tied for second in the NFL, against four interceptions. He has 1,269 passing yards, eighth in the league, and has been sacked eight times. The Raiders’ rushing offense is among the bottom five at 82.0 yards per game, so Cousins will throw — a lot.

Brock Bowers has played three of the Raiders’ five games after being listed out and doubtful with a knee injury in the first two weeks. In those three games he has 24 catches on 35 targets for 312 yards and three touchdowns. Buffalo allows 280.4 passing yards per game, among the bottom five in the NFL, which opens the middle of the field for Bowers.

Defense vs Defense: Turnovers Tell the Story

Buffalo has just two interceptions this season, among the bottom 10 in the NFL. That gives Cousins — and the 3-2 Raiders, trying to end a two-game losing streak — a real chance to keep pace.

The Bills’ defense surrendered 378 yards in the win over the Rams, including a 91-yard touchdown drive that tied the game at 23 in the fourth quarter. They also lost starting safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to an ejection after he spit toward Raiders tight end Brock Bowers late in the first half. His availability for this game is not confirmed in the source material.

Injury Report: Who Plays, Who Sits

Bills head coach Joe Brady listed five players as questionable: wide receivers DJ Moore (shoulder) and Joshua Palmer (shoulder), defensive lineman Ed Oliver (knee), cornerback Dee Alford (ankle) and defensive lineman T.J. Sanders (shoulder).

Moore and Oliver did not practice Wednesday or Thursday but were limited Friday. Palmer and Alford were limited all three days. Sanders was limited Wednesday and Thursday but upgraded to a full participant Friday. Moore, Oliver, Palmer and Alford were all inactive for last week’s game against the Rams.

Right tackle Spencer Brown (back) was limited Wednesday but upgraded to full participant Thursday. Brady said he will play. “Spencer is a tough guy,” Brady said. “Spencer will be good to go, be ready to rock.”

On the Las Vegas side, the Raiders’ pass rush ranks near the top of the NFL in pressure rate, per Syracuse.com. That sets up an intriguing test for Allen.

Odds and Prediction: What the Numbers Say

FanDuel lists the Bills as 5.5-point favorites (-105) with a total of 53.5. The moneyline is Bills -245, Raiders +200. FOX Sports reports the Bills as 6-point favorites with a total of 53.5 and a moneyline of -277 for Buffalo and +225 for Las Vegas. Lines vary by sportsbook.

A machine learning simulation model from Syracuse.com projects a 30-23 Buffalo win — a seven-point margin that clears the 5.5-point spread. The model gives Buffalo a 56.3% cover probability at -4.5, so the edge is smaller at -5.5. The projected total of 53 sits just below FanDuel’s 53.5, a near coin flip with a slight lean to the under.

For player props, the model projects Allen for 250 passing yards, about 10 yards above FanDuel’s 239.5 line (-113). It also gives him a 57.5% chance to score a rushing touchdown — the highest anytime touchdown probability of any player in the model, edging Cook at 55.1%. But FanDuel’s -175 price requires a 63.6% hit rate, so the model sees no value there. Bettors would want Allen at -135 or longer.

In the head-to-head passing yards market, Cousins is -132 and Allen is +102. The model projects 256 yards for Cousins and 250 for Allen — a gap of just six yards. Allen at plus money is the better price if you believe the model’s margin is too thin.

The Bottom Line: Which Team Wins for Which Use Case

If you are betting the spread, Buffalo -5.5 (-105) is the play. A projected seven-point margin gives the Bills a cushion at a near even-money price. The model’s 30-23 projection supports it.

If you are betting player props, Josh Allen over 239.5 passing yards (-113) is the cleanest angle. His season average of roughly 250 yards per game and the model’s 250-yard projection both point over the number.

If you are betting the moneyline, pass. Buffalo at -245 requires a 71.0% win probability. The spread is a more efficient way to back the Bills.

If you are betting Allen to score a touchdown, wait for a better number. At -175, the price is steeper than the model’s 57.5% probability supports.

For the game itself, the Bills vs Raiders matchup favors Buffalo because of one mismatch: James Cook against a Raiders run defense allowing 140.6 yards per game. Buffalo already ranks fifth in the league at 158.0 rushing yards per game. If the Bills control the clock on the ground, Allen does not have to win it alone — and that is the safest bet on the board.

Check FanDuel for the latest odds before placing a wager, especially as final injury designations come in for DJ Moore. Lines can move.

Responsible Gambling: If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. New York residents can also contact the NY HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY.

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TORONTO — Jonathan David scored in the 12th minute and Dayne St. Clair kept a clean sheet as Canada beat Chile 1-0 on Saturday at BMO Field, opening a new four-year cycle with a win in front of 23,310 fans.

The Canada vs Chile friendly was Canada’s first match on home soil since its historic run to the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, where the co-hosts fell 3-0 to Morocco in Houston. Chile, ranked No. 49 in the world, missed the tournament after finishing bottom of CONMEBOL qualifying with two wins from 18 matches.

David wore the captain’s armband with Alphonso Davies absent on a delayed honeymoon. The goal came after Ralph Priso launched a long ball to Jacob Shaffelburg, whose cross found Cyle Larin. Goalkeeper Christian Bravo stopped Larin’s initial shot, but the rebound floated across the goalmouth and David tapped it in with his left foot.

“I’m always expecting to score every game,” David said. “So I asked them for it to be prepared.”

David raised a No. 13 Derek Cornelius jersey as he returned to the sideline. Cornelius, a defender, was hurt during a training session earlier in the week.

Canada vs Chile turns chippy as Chile finish with nine men

The match billed as “The Homecoming” began with a ceremony honouring the World Cup squad, which reached the knockout stage for the first time and beat South Africa in the Round of 32.

Chile’s night unraveled before halftime. Midfielder Lucas Cepeda was shown a red card in the 35th minute after getting tangled with Canadian defender Richie Laryea. As Cepeda was pulled down, his leg came upward and his boot caught Laryea on the side of the head, drawing blood near the eyebrow. Laryea stayed in the game after medical attention.

Canada caught a break moments later when Niko Sigur was knocked down and St. Clair was caught out of his area. Chile’s Jonathan Villagra had a chance to hit the ball into an empty net from distance but put it over the bar.

Chile went down to nine men four minutes into the second half. Gabriel Suazo received a second yellow card after his forearm caught Sigur in the head as they jumped for a ball.

Canada pressed with the two-man advantage, but the Chilean backline held firm. A Laryea strike from distance in the 84th minute hit the post.

“We wanted to come back here in Toronto after the World Cup to say thank you to the fans,” Canadian midfielder Mathieu Choiniere said. “I think that’s the best way that we did it — by a win.”

Canada vs Chile: What’s next for both teams

The Canada vs Chile result extends Canada’s strong record at BMO Field, where the national team’s last defeat came nearly three years ago against Jamaica. Canada has lost only once in its last eight matches on home soil, a defeat to Switzerland at the World Cup.

Canada also extended its unbeaten run against South American opposition to four matches, having beaten Venezuela 2-0 in November 2025 and drawn with Colombia and Ecuador late last year.

According to TSN, head coach Jesse Marsch said Canada has set a long-term goal of reaching the top 24 in the world rankings as it looks to qualify for the 2030 World Cup in Portugal, Morocco and Spain.

Next up is an Oct. 3 friendly in Montreal against No. 50 Peru. Canada will visit the 16th-ranked United States on Oct. 6 in St. Paul, Minn. The team has three friendlies scheduled before entering the next CONCACAF Nations League campaign, where Canada is automatically through to the quarter-finals.

For Chile, the Canada vs Chile match marked the start of a rebuilding process under Nicolas Cordova, who remains in charge on an interim basis despite taking just 11 points from a possible 54 in qualifying. Cordova has overseen a more encouraging run, winning five of Chile’s last seven fixtures, including two wins over Peru. Chile has scored in five consecutive matches and scored 10 goals across its last five games.

Chile is without its most recognizable recent star. Alexis Sanchez was left out of the squad during the national team’s generational overhaul. Five Chilean players could make their senior debuts, while Ben Brereton Diaz arrived as the highest-scoring Chilean selected for the window with 10 international goals.

Canada vs Chile squads hit by absences

Canada was missing several key players beyond Davies. First-choice World Cup goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau was unavailable for personal reasons. Cornelius had a lower-body injury, Jeevan Badwal dealt with a hamstring problem, and Moise Bombito was recovering from tibia surgery. Alistair Johnston, Kamal Miller and Jonathan Osorio were also absent.

Chile’s confirmed XI featured Vigouroux in goal, with Faundez, Villagra, Roman and Suazo in defense; Pizarro and Marcelino in midfield; and Osorio, Perez, Cepeda and Tapia in attack.

Canada’s confirmed XI lined up in a 4-4-2: St. Clair in goal; Sigur, De Fougerolles, Priso and Laryea in defense; Saliba, Choiniere, Buchanan and Shaffelburg in midfield; and David and Larin up top.

Jovan Ivanisevic made his national men’s team debut as substitutes came on in the 62nd minute. Junior Hoilett, in his final appearance with the squad, subbed in during the 76th minute and was honoured for his 11-year run with the national team after the game.

“I was emotional, man,” Hoilett said. “I was trying to hold it together when I first stepped on the field. It was a special moment.”

Richard Chukwu also made his national men’s team debut in the 88th minute.

The Canada vs Chile fixture carried significance beyond the scoreline, with both national teams using the match to develop squads for the next international cycle. Canada is trying to maintain momentum from its best-ever World Cup campaign, while Chile is attempting to rebuild after a difficult qualifying period.

For viewers who missed the match, BolaVIP reported the game aired in the United States on FOX Soccer Plus, with streaming through Fubo and FOX One.

Canada’s next competitive challenge comes in the November knockout stage of the 2026/27 CONCACAF Nations League A quarterfinals. For Chile, the road back to the World Cup begins with rebuilding under Cordova, with the September-October window serving as the first step.

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