The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reversed its decision to move the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to a four-year cycle, confirming that the continental tournament will continue to take place every two years.
The decision was unanimously approved by CAF’s Executive Committee on Thursday, October 29, following months of uncertainty over the future format of Africa’s biggest international football competition.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced the development after the governing body’s reassessment of its earlier plan to introduce a four-year AFCON schedule alongside a new Africa Nations League competition.
The proposed changes were initially intended to restructure African international football, with the Africa Nations League expected to become a major biennial competition and provide national teams with regular opportunities to compete.
However, CAF acknowledged that the proposed Nations League would require several years to generate the substantial financial resources needed to support the development of African football and make its competitions more competitive and financially sustainable.
The financial implications of the proposed arrangement became one of the major considerations behind the decision to retain AFCON’s traditional two-year format.
Explaining the decision, Motsepe said the Executive Committee’s position was guided by the need to protect the interests of African football, CAF’s 54 member associations and African players representing clubs outside the continent.
He also expressed concern about the length of time the proposed Africa Nations League would need before it could generate the financial and developmental benefits initially expected.
According to the CAF president, maintaining the biennial AFCON format would better serve the immediate interests of African football while allowing the continent’s governing body to continue developing its competitions.
The reversal comes less than a year after CAF announced in December 2025 that AFCON would move to a four-year schedule following the 2028 edition.
That announcement formed part of a wider restructuring of African national team competitions and attracted considerable debate among football stakeholders, particularly over the implications for national teams, players and the commercial value of the tournament.
Under the earlier arrangement, the Africa Nations League was expected to replace AFCON as the continent’s major competition held every two years.
However, the latest decision effectively restores AFCON to its established position as a regular continental tournament, with CAF prioritising its existing competition over waiting several years for the proposed alternative to become financially sustainable.
CAF has also confirmed the schedule for the next four editions of the tournament. The 2027 AFCON will take place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, marking a historic occasion as the three East African countries prepare to jointly host the competition.
The tournament will be followed by another edition in 2028, while subsequent competitions are scheduled for 2031 and 2033.
The decision not to stage AFCON in 2030 is linked to the FIFA World Cup, with CAF maintaining its position that the final tournament of the Africa Cup of Nations and other confederation national team competitions may not take place during a World Cup year.
Although the return to a two-year cycle represents a reversal of CAF’s previous position, the announced calendar means that AFCON will not necessarily take place at exactly two-year intervals in every edition.
Motsepe also emphasised the cultural significance of the competition, describing AFCON as more than a football tournament because it brings together people from Africa’s 54 countries, the African diaspora and supporters across the world.
For CAF, the decision is expected to preserve the tournament’s financial importance, maintain opportunities for African national teams and support the continued growth of football across the continent.
The latest announcement brings an end to months of uncertainty over the competition’s future frequency and confirms that AFCON will retain its traditional biennial identity, beginning with the 2027 edition in East Africa.
