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 CAF Executive Committee (EXCO) unanimously approved the change on October 29, following a reassessment announced by CAF President Patrice Motsepe at the CAF Strategy Conference in Cabo Verde, held from October 7 to 9, 2026.
The decision reflects concerns about the time required for the proposed Africa Nations League to generate financial resources needed to support African football. CAF said the review was guided by the interests of African football, CAF's 54 member associations, and African players employed by clubs outside the continent. The next AFCON will take place in 2027, jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The proposed Africa Nations League was conceived as a new pan-African competition to replace the existing AFCON cycle. However, CAF said the competition would require several years before it could make substantial financial and football-development contributions. Motsepe emphasized that waiting for the proposed competition to become financially viable could delay resources needed to strengthen African football.
According to CAF President Patrice Motsepe, restoring the two-year AFCON cycle aims to support the development and growth of the game while protecting the interests of member associations. The decision was based on advancing, protecting, and promoting African football and CAF's 54 member associations, as well as African players employed by football clubs outside Africa.
The 2030 FIFA World Cup calendar also influenced the scheduling of future AFCON tournaments. CAF cited FIFA's scheduling tradition, which avoids conflicts with the World Cup, as a factor in determining the dates of future AFCON tournaments. This led to a gap between the 2028 and 2031 editions in the proposed schedule.
The 2027 AFCON tournament, to be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, marks a joint East African hosting arrangement. Motsepe defended the competition's importance beyond its sporting and financial value, describing it as a celebration of Africa's cultures, customs, and traditions. He expressed confidence that the 2027 tournament would be successful and contribute to African football development.
The return to a biennial format is expected to contribute to the development of African football. Motsepe emphasized that AFCON brings together people from the continent's 54 countries, the African diaspora, and communities worldwide. The CAF president is optimistic about the future of African football, citing the importance of the tournament in promoting unity and football development across the continent.
Key points
- CAF reverses decision to stage AFCON every four years
- 2027 AFCON to be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda
- Return to two-year cycle aims to support African football development
