The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reversed its earlier decision to hold the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years, announcing that the tournament will return to its traditional two-year cycle.
The decision was unanimously approved by the CAF Executive Committee (EXCO), according to a statement released by the continental football governing body.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe had indicated at the organisation’s Strategy Conference in Cabo Verde, held from October 7 to 9, 2026, that the Executive Committee would reconsider the earlier decision to move AFCON to a four-year schedule.
The reversal follows concerns over the proposed Africa Nations League, which was expected to replace the biennial AFCON. The new competition was projected to take several years to generate sufficient revenue to support CAF’s competitions and football development programmes across the continent.
Motsepe said the decision to restore the two-year cycle was guided by the need to protect the interests of African football, CAF’s 54 member associations and African players contracted to clubs outside the continent.
He explained that although the proposed Africa Nations League was expected to deliver similar financial and football development benefits as the existing AFCON format, it would take several years before the competition could achieve those objectives.
“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,” Motsepe said.
Under the revised calendar, the next AFCON will take place in 2027, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda serving as joint hosts. Subsequent editions are scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033.
Motsepe explained that the 2030 edition would be skipped because of the FIFA World Cup scheduled for that year. He said CAF had decided against holding its major national team competitions in the same year as the global tournament.
The CAF president expressed confidence that the 2027 edition, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, would be successful.
He also described AFCON as more than a football competition, noting that the tournament provides a platform for celebrating Africa’s diverse cultures and bringing together people from the continent’s 54 countries, the African diaspora and other parts of the world.
Motsepe maintained that restoring the biennial format would strengthen the development of football across Africa while generating greater financial returns for CAF and its member associations.
