CAF Reverses AFCON Four-Year Plan, Restores Traditional Two-Year Format

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reversed its earlier decision to stage the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years, confirming that the continent’s flagship national team competition will return to its traditional two-year cycle.

The decision was unanimously approved by CAF’s Executive Committee on Thursday, October 29, 2026, marking a significant shift in the governing body’s long-term competition strategy.

CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe confirmed the development in an official statement, explaining that the organisation had reconsidered its previous arrangement following concerns about the proposed Africa Nations League.

The four-year AFCON format was announced in December 2025 as part of a broader restructuring of African football competitions. Under that arrangement, the proposed Africa Nations League was expected to become the continent’s major biennial national team competition.

However, CAF has now acknowledged that the new competition would require several years before generating sufficient financial resources to support football development and strengthen the organisation’s competitions.

Motsepe said the reversal was intended to protect the interests of African football, the continent’s 54 member associations and African players representing clubs outside the continent.

Africa Nations League plans influence decision

The proposed Africa Nations League was initially designed to provide a major continental competition every two years while allowing AFCON to move to a four-year schedule.

CAF’s latest assessment, however, indicated that the proposed league would take considerable time to deliver the financial and developmental benefits originally anticipated.

The governing body therefore opted to restore AFCON’s biennial format rather than wait several years for the new competition to become financially sustainable.

The decision also reflects CAF’s intention to maintain the commercial and developmental importance of its flagship tournament.

AFCON 2027 remains on schedule

Despite the changes, the next Africa Cup of Nations will proceed in 2027, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda serving as joint hosts.

According to Motsepe, subsequent editions are scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033.

There will be no AFCON tournament in 2030 because of the FIFA World Cup scheduled for that year. CAF says its scheduling arrangement will avoid holding the final stages of its national team competitions during the World Cup year.

What the decision means for African football

The return to a two-year AFCON cycle means national teams, players, supporters, sponsors and football associations can continue to anticipate the continent’s biggest international football tournament at more frequent intervals.

For African football associations, the decision also preserves AFCON’s importance as a major source of competition exposure, commercial opportunities and international recognition.

Motsepe further described the tournament as an important platform for celebrating Africa’s diverse cultures and bringing together people from the continent, the African diaspora and beyond.

With the revised arrangement now confirmed, attention will turn to preparations for the 2027 tournament in East Africa and the implementation of CAF’s updated competition calendar.

The reversal brings an end to the proposed four-year AFCON arrangement, restoring the competition’s traditional biennial identity while CAF continues to assess its wider football development plans.