CAF Makes U-turn, Restores AFCON To 2-year Cycle

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reversed its decision to stage the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years, restoring the competition’s traditional two-year cycle.

The decision was announced on Thursday, October 29, following a unanimous resolution by the CAF Executive Committee, ending months of uncertainty over the tournament’s future schedule.

CAF had announced in December 2025 that AFCON would move to a four-year cycle after the 2027 edition, with the proposed Africa Nations League expected to provide an alternative platform for continental competition.

However, CAF President Patrice Motsepe said the governing body had reconsidered the plan after recognising that the proposed Nations League would take several years to generate sufficient revenue to support African football and its competitions.

Motsepe said the decision to retain the biennial AFCON was guided by the need to protect the interests of African football, the confederation’s 54 member associations and African players employed by clubs outside the continent.

“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 said.

The proposed Africa Nations League was intended to reshape the continent’s international football calendar, but CAF concluded that it would not generate the financial resources required to support the game in the immediate future.

The reversal means AFCON will continue to provide African national teams with a major continental championship every two years, rather than adopting the four-year format initially proposed by the governing body.

The next edition will take place in 2027, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, before subsequent tournaments in 2028, 2031 and 2033 under the revised schedule.

The decision marks a significant change in CAF’s competition strategy as the organisation seeks to balance the commercial development of African football with the interests of national associations, players and supporters.