CAF REVERSES FOUR-YEAR PLAN, RESTORES BIENNIAL AFCON

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reversed its earlier decision to hold the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years, confirming that the continental tournament will return to its traditional two-year cycle.

The decision was unanimously approved by the CAF Executive Committee (EXCO) and announced by CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, following the organisation’s Strategy Conference held in Cabo Verde from October 7 to 9, 2026.

The reversal follows a review of CAF’s earlier proposal to introduce a four-year AFCON cycle alongside a new Africa Nations League, which was expected to take place every two years.

According to CAF, the proposed Africa Nations League would require several years to generate the substantial financial resources needed to support football development across the continent and make its competitions globally competitive and financially sustainable.

Explaining the decision in a statement published on CAF’s website on Friday, Motsepe said the committee’s position was informed by the need to protect the interests of African football, its 54 member associations and African players playing for clubs outside the continent.

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He said the decision to retain the biennial AFCON format was aimed at advancing and promoting the development of African football while safeguarding the interests of its stakeholders.

Motsepe also expressed concerns over the length of time it would take for the proposed Africa Nations League to deliver the expected financial and developmental benefits.

Under the revised calendar, the next edition of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations will take place in 2027, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda jointly hosting the competition.

Subsequent editions are scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033, with CAF maintaining that the tournament’s final stages will not coincide with the FIFA World Cup.

The CAF president expressed confidence in the ability of the three East African countries to successfully host the 2027 competition, describing it as an opportunity to showcase Africa’s football talent.

He explained that the revised schedule also considers the 2030 FIFA World Cup, noting that continental national team competitions should not hold their final tournaments in the same year as the global football event.

Beyond the sporting and financial implications, Motsepe described AFCON as an important platform for celebrating Africa’s diverse cultures, traditions and customs while bringing together people from the continent and the diaspora.

He added that restoring the two-year format would contribute significantly to the growth and development of football across Africa and strengthen CAF’s 54 member associations.

The decision marks a shift in CAF’s competition calendar plans, reaffirming AFCON’s position as the continent’s flagship national team tournament.