The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reversed its previous decision to stage the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years, confirming that the continental showpiece will return to a biennial format.
The CAF Executive Committee (EXCO) unanimously approved the decision, with CAF President Patrice Motsepe announcing the development following the organisation’s Strategy Conference held in Cabo Verde from October 7 to 9, 2026.
The decision follows a reassessment of CAF’s earlier plan to move AFCON to a four-year cycle and introduce a new Africa Nations League as a replacement competition to be staged every two years.
According to CAF, the proposed Nations League would require several years before generating the substantial financial resources needed to support the development of African football and make its competitions globally competitive and financially self-sustaining.
In a post obtained from CAF’s website on Friday, explaining the decision, Motsepe said the EXCO’s position was guided by the need to protect the interests of African football, its 54 member associations and African players competing for clubs outside the continent.
He added that CAF was concerned about the length of time it would take for the proposed Africa Nations League to generate the financial and developmental benefits initially envisaged.
Under the revised schedule, the next TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations will be hosted jointly by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in 2027.
The subsequent editions are scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033, with CAF maintaining that the tournament will not be staged in the same year as the FIFA World Cup.
Motsepe expressed confidence in the East African countries’ ability to successfully host the 2027 tournament, describing the competition as an important platform for showcasing the continent’s footballing talent.
He explained that the scheduling arrangement also takes into consideration the 2030 FIFA World Cup, noting that, in line with FIFA tradition, continental national team competitions should not hold their final tournaments during a World Cup year.
Beyond the sporting and financial considerations, the CAF president stressed that AFCON remains an important cultural event that brings Africans together and celebrates the continent’s diversity.
He maintained that restoring the two-year cycle would support the growth of the game across the continent and strengthen CAF’s member associations.
The decision marks a significant shift in CAF’s competition calendar strategy, reaffirming AFCON’s position as the continent’s flagship national team tournament while giving the proposed Africa Nations League a different place in the organisation’s long-term plans.
