The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reversed its decision to stage the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years, confirming that the continental competition will return to its traditional two-year cycle.
The decision was unanimously reached at a CAF Executive Committee meeting, with CAF President Patrice Motsepe confirming that the move was in the best interest of African football and its 54 member associations.
CAF had previously announced plans to move AFCON to a four-year schedule, with the proposed Africa Nations League expected to replace the tournament as a biennial competition.
However, the continental football governing body reconsidered the arrangement after recognising that the proposed Africa Nations League would require several years to generate the substantial financial resources needed to support African football and make CAF competitions globally competitive and financially sustainable.
Motsepe explained that the reassessment was necessary to protect the interests of African football, particularly the national associations and African players employed by clubs outside the continent.
According to the CAF president, maintaining AFCON every two years would provide greater opportunities for football development, financial growth and increased global competitiveness.
The next edition of the tournament, the 2027 AFCON, will take place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
CAF has also outlined the subsequent editions, with the competition scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033.
The adjustment to the calendar takes into consideration the 2030 FIFA World Cup. CAF noted that, in keeping with FIFA’s tradition, the final tournaments of continental national team competitions may not be staged in the same year as the World Cup.
Motsepe further described AFCON as more than a football competition, stressing its importance in celebrating Africa’s diverse cultures, traditions and heritage while bringing together people from the continent’s 54 countries and the African diaspora.
He expressed confidence that the 2027 tournament would be successful, adding that the decision would contribute significantly to the growth and development of football across Africa.
The latest decision marks a major shift in CAF’s competition calendar and restores the biennial format that has traditionally defined the Africa Cup of Nations.
