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The Confederation of African Football has reversed its earlier decision to organise the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years, confirming that the continental competition will retain its traditional biennial format.
The decision was reached on Thursday after CAF’s Executive Committee unanimously approved the return to the arrangement under which the tournament is held every two years.
The reversal comes months after CAF president, Patrice Motsepe, announced plans to change the competition’s schedule from a two-year cycle to four years as part of efforts to restructure African football and align its calendar with other major international tournaments.
In December 2025, Motsepe disclosed that the proposed arrangement would see AFCON take place in the same year as the European Championship, which is also organised every four years.
The governing body had also announced plans to introduce an African Nations League in 2029, with the competition expected to provide more regular international football opportunities for national teams across the continent.
However, CAF has now opted to maintain the existing AFCON arrangement, with Motsepe explaining that retaining the tournament every two years would better serve African football and the confederation’s 54 member associations.
According to the CAF president, the proposed African Nations League could take several years to become financially sustainable. This made it difficult for the organisation to depend on the new competition as a replacement for AFCON during the years when the continental championship would not have been played under the abandoned four-year arrangement.
Motsepe said the decision followed considerations about the interests of African football and the need to ensure that the competition remained beneficial to member associations.
He also confirmed that the next edition of the tournament would take place in 2027, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda serving as joint hosts.
“The next TotalEnergies CAF AFCON will take place in 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and I am confident that it will be very successful. The subsequent AFCONs thereafter will take place in 2028, 2031 and 2033,” Motsepe said.
The schedule means that AFCON will return in 2027 and 2028 before moving to a three-year interval for the following editions in 2031 and 2033.
FIFA World Cup calendar to influence AFCON dates
Motsepe further explained that CAF would consider the international football calendar when deciding the dates of future AFCON competitions.
He noted that the governing body would avoid scheduling the continental tournament during the year of the FIFA World Cup, in line with the established tradition governing major international competitions.
“The forthcoming FIFA World Cup will take place in 2030 and in accordance with the FIFA tradition, the final tournament of the AFCON and other Confederations National Teams competitions may not take place during the year of the FIFA World Cup,” he added.
The arrangement is intended to prevent major international competitions from competing for attention during the same period and allow national teams to participate in the relevant tournaments without unnecessary scheduling conflicts.
2027 AFCON preparations continue
The 2027 edition will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, marking a major occasion for East African football.
The three countries are expected to share hosting responsibilities as CAF continues preparations for the competition.
The tournament will also provide an opportunity for the region to welcome Africa’s leading national teams and supporters from across the continent.
With the latest decision, CAF has clarified its position on the future of its flagship national team competition after months of uncertainty surrounding the proposed calendar changes.
The biennial format has traditionally provided African national teams with a regular opportunity to compete for continental honours, while also giving players a platform to represent their countries and attract international attention.
Although the proposed four-year cycle was presented as part of a broader restructuring of African football, the latest decision indicates that CAF considers the two-year arrangement more suitable for its current needs.
The African Nations League, which was initially scheduled to begin in 2029, had been included in the earlier restructuring plans. However, Motsepe’s explanation suggests that the financial sustainability of the proposed competition remains an important consideration.
For now, AFCON will continue under the revised schedule announced by CAF, with the next tournament set for 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, followed by editions in 2028, 2031 and 2033.
The decision brings an end to the uncertainty over whether Africa’s premier national team competition would move to a four-year cycle, reaffirming its place on the continent’s football calendar.
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