A deal worth at least $1bn in secured income over eight years was abandoned by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) because the governing body decided to switch the Africa Cup of Nations from a biennial to a four-yearly event, the Guardian can reveal. “We announced in Addis Ababa this $1bn partnership that we are looking at over the next eight years. View image in fullscreen Patrice Motsepe (left) said in 2025 that ‘good progress’ was being made over a $1bn deal for Caf. Photograph: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty ImagesIt has been seven years since Caf has had a long-term deal to secure its financial future. But that agreement was unilaterally terminated in December 2019 during the tenure of Ahmad Ahmad, Hayatou’s successor as Caf president.