The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reversed its decision to stage the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years, restoring the tournament’s traditional two-year cycle.
The decision was unanimously approved by the CAF Executive Committee on Thursday, October 29, 2026, following a review of the competition’s schedule and the proposed Africa Nations League.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe had announced at the organisation’s strategy conference in Cabo Verde earlier in October that the Executive Committee would reconsider its previous decision to move AFCON to a four-year cycle.
The proposed Africa Nations League had been intended to replace AFCON as the continent’s biennial national-team competition. However, CAF said the new tournament would require several years before generating sufficient revenue to support the development of African football and make its competitions globally competitive and financially sustainable.
Motsepe said the decision to restore the two-year cycle was intended to protect the interests of African football, CAF’s 54 member associations and African players contracted to 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 interests of African Football and CAF’s 54 Member Associations,” Motsepe said in a statement.
The next AFCON will take place in 2027, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda serving as co-hosts. CAF has also confirmed that subsequent editions are scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033, with no tournament planned for 2030 because it is a FIFA World Cup year.
The reversal marks a significant change in CAF’s competition plans after the governing body announced in December 2025 that AFCON would move to a four-year schedule following the 2028 edition.
With the biennial format restored, AFCON will continue to provide a regular platform for African national teams to compete for continental honours, while CAF considers how its wider competition calendar should accommodate the proposed Africa Nations League.
