The Africa Cup of Nations will once again be played every two years after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) reversed its earlier decision to move the tournament to a four-year cycle.

What happened

CAF's Executive Committee reportedly approved the change unanimously on Thursday, 29 October 2026, after months of discussion. CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced the decision in a statement on the body's website.

Why CAF changed course

Motsepe said the decision was taken to advance and protect the interests of African football, its 54 member associations and African players at clubs abroad. CAF had planned to introduce an Africa Nations League to fill the gap between tournaments, but it was reportedly concerned about how long the new competition would take to deliver the expected money and development benefits. Returning to a two-year AFCON was seen as the safer option in the short term.

What comes next

AFCON 2027 will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Motsepe said he was confident the three countries would deliver a successful competition. He described AFCON as more than a football tournament, calling it a celebration of African cultures that brings together people on the continent and in the diaspora.

Background

AFCON has been held every two years for most of its history, which has sometimes caused friction with European clubs that lose key players in the middle of their seasons. The move to a four-year cycle had been welcomed by some clubs but criticised by many fans and smaller federations, who rely on tournament income.

How fans reacted

Many African football fans, including Nigerians, welcomed the decision, saying more frequent AFCONs give the Super Eagles and other national teams more chances to compete for the title.

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen is a father again after his partner, Stefanie Ladewig, gave birth to a baby girl.

What happened

His club, Galatasaray, announced the birth on social media on Thursday, 29 October 2026, congratulating the striker and Stefanie on the arrival of their daughter. The baby has reportedly been named Liora Audrey. The exact date of birth was not given.

Background

It is the couple's second child. Their first daughter, Hailey, was born in October 2022. The good news comes during a strong spell for Osimhen on the pitch. He scored twice in Galatasaray's derby win over Fenerbahçe on Monday and is closing in on the club's record for goals by a foreign player, with 68 goals so far.

How fans reacted

Nigerian and Turkish fans flooded social media with congratulations, with many joking that the new baby had brought him luck in front of goal.

Cristiano Ronaldo has received a special 'Ballon d'Or of All Time' honour after fans voted his 2007-08 season at Manchester United the greatest in the history of the award.

What happened

The prize was reportedly presented by France Football, the magazine that runs the Ballon d'Or, after a month-long public online vote. The result was reported on Thursday, 29 October 2026. Lionel Messi's 2012 season finished second, while Ronaldo's own 2017 season came third.

The winning season

In 2007-08, Ronaldo scored 42 goals in all competitions and helped Manchester United win both the Premier League and the Champions League. That season earned him his first Ballon d'Or, the start of a long rivalry with Messi that saw the two players dominate the award for more than a decade.

What Ronaldo said

The Portuguese star thanked fans around the world on social media, saying football belongs to the fans and that the award belongs to them too.

How fans reacted

The result reignited the endless debate between supporters of Ronaldo and Messi. Ronaldo's fans celebrated the win as proof of his greatness, while Messi supporters pointed out that the Argentine has won more Ballon d'Or titles in total. The honour comes days after England captain Harry Kane won this year's Ballon d'Or.

Former Super Eagles head coach Sunday Oliseh has reopened old wounds from his time in charge of the national team, reportedly describing a snub by John Mikel Obi as one of the biggest insults he suffered in the job.

What he said

Speaking on a podcast, in comments reported on Thursday, 29 October 2026, Oliseh is said to have explained that he paid for his own trip from Belgium to the United Kingdom to meet Mikel and Victor Moses at a bar in central London, together with his assistant coach. According to Oliseh, Moses came and gave honest feedback about problems in the squad, which he said he respected, but Mikel did not turn up and did not reply to his WhatsApp message.

The NFF warning

Oliseh also reportedly said that when he took the job, officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) told him to stop inviting Mikel, goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and striker Emmanuel Emenike, describing the three as troublesome for the federation. He said he now regrets not following that advice. The NFF has not commented on his account, and Mikel has not publicly responded.

Background

Oliseh, a former Super Eagles captain, coached the national team from 2015 until he resigned in 2016. His spell was marked by public disputes with players and officials. Enyeama retired from international football during that period after a falling-out with the coach. Mikel, who captained Nigeria and won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, has since become a popular podcaster and pundit.

How fans reacted

Fans were divided, with some saying the former coach should let the past go and others saying his account helps explain the tension in the team at the time.