The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that it will return to its traditional biennial schedule for the Africa Cup of Nations. This decision was made during a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee on October 29, 2026. The committee agreed to revert to the previous schedule, which will see the tournament take place every two years. This move is seen as a significant development in African football.
The 36th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations is scheduled to take place in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda in the summer of 2027. The exact dates for the tournament have been set between June 19 and July 18, 2027. The CAF has also confirmed that the tournaments for 2028, 2031, and 2033 have been scheduled, although the host countries for these events have not been announced.
One notable aspect of the new schedule is that there will be no Africa Cup of Nations tournament in 2030. This is due to a long-standing agreement between CAF and FIFA, which stipulates that continental tournaments should not be held in the same year as the World Cup. This decision is aimed at avoiding conflicts between major international football events.
According to CAF President Patrice Motsepe, the decision to return to a biennial schedule serves the best interests of African football. He stated that the move aims to protect the financial independence of the 54 member associations and promote the development of the sport across the continent. This decision is seen as a significant boost to African football.
The decision to reverse the previous decision was made during the CAF Strategic Conference in Cape Verde from October 7-9, 2026. The conference brought together various stakeholders to discuss the future of African football. The change in schedule is seen as a response to the challenges faced by the new "African Nations League" competition, which was introduced in December 2025.
The Mauritanian national team, known as "Les Mourabitoun," will participate in the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. They are drawn in Group F alongside Burkina Faso, Benin, and the Central African Republic. The team will be looking to make a strong impression in the qualifiers and secure a spot in the tournament.
The CAF's decision to return to a biennial schedule for the Africa Cup of Nations has been welcomed by many in the African football community. The tournament is one of the most prestigious events in African sports, and its biennial schedule will provide more opportunities for teams to compete and for fans to engage with the sport.
Key points
- The CAF has reversed its decision to hold the Africa Cup of Nations every four years, opting instead for a biennial tournament.
- The 36th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will take place in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda in the summer of 2027.
- There will be no Africa Cup of Nations tournament in 2030 due to a long-standing agreement with FIFA.
