The African Football Confederation (Caf) has officially reversed its previous decision to move the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) to a four-year cycle, confirming that the tournament will revert to being held every two years. Caf President Patrice Motsepe explained that the U-turn was driven by concerns over the time required for the proposed replacement competition, the Africa Nations League Pan-African Competition, to become financially viable and globally competitive. The decision also aims to protect African players employed by clubs outside the continent, though it may create scheduling conflicts with their employers. The next tournament is scheduled for 2027, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, followed by editions in 2028, 2031, and 2033, with a three-year gap between 2028 and 2031 to accommodate the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
In club football, Cristiano Ronaldo continues his prolific scoring run, bringing him closer to the milestone of 1,000 career goals. The 41-year-old netted a hat-trick in just 15 minutes to secure a 5-3 victory for Al-Nassr against Al Kholood in the Saudi Pro League. Despite serving a 30-day suspension for walking out on a Portugal training camp, Ronaldo's current form suggests he could reach four figures by early 2027. His club currently sits second in the league standings behind Al Qadsiah on goal difference.
Dejan Kulusevski has made a significant return to competitive action for Tottenham Hotspur after a 17-month absence due to knee injuries. The 26-year-old featured as a substitute in recent victories against Coventry and Chelsea following multiple setbacks after his initial surgery in May 2025. A second procedure in March finally facilitated his recovery, which Kulusevski attributed to specialized physiotherapy in Sweden that helped retrain his nervous system. He described the transition from being unable to walk up stairs normally to regaining control of his leg and returning to high-level play within a few weeks.
Disciplinary matters have dominated headlines in England, with Arsenal's appeal against Max Dowman's red card in their Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood Town rejected by an independent commission. The 16-year-old will miss upcoming matches against Liverpool, Hull, and Newcastle. At Everton, Jack Grealish was omitted from the squad for a 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Newcastle United following a breach of club discipline. Reports indicate the 31-year-old missed training on Monday without permission, prompting manager David Moyes and chief executive Angus Kinnear to drop him. Grealish, who is on loan from Manchester City, will become a free agent at the end of the season.
Other Premier League updates include Brighton's Fabian Hurzeler expressing confidence that Chema Andres and Ferdi Kadioglu will be available for their upcoming match against Manchester City after recovering from hip injuries. Conversely, Marco Rose confirmed that Bournemouth forward Junior Kroupi will continue to have his minutes managed carefully following a foot injury that sidelined him for the first three months of the campaign. In the Women's Champions League, Manchester City suffered a setback in their bid to avoid the knockout phase play-offs, drawing 1-1 thanks to a late goal by Tara Elimbi Gilbert, leaving them needing wins in their final three league matches.
Sources: The Guardian Sport.