AFCON Returns to Two-Year Cycle as CAF Reverses Four-Year Plan

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will return to its traditional two-year schedule after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) reversed its decision to stage the continental tournament every four years.

CAF’s Executive Committee unanimously approved the change on Thursday, 29 October, following a review of the previous arrangement announced in December 2025.

The decision means Africa’s biggest national football competition will retain its biennial format, ending months of uncertainty over its future scheduling.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe said the reversal was intended to protect the interests of African football, its 54 member associations and African players competing for clubs outside the continent.

He explained that the proposed Africa Nations League, which was expected to replace AFCON as the continent’s biennial competition, would take several years to generate enough revenue to support the development and financial sustainability of African football. <Cite refs={[“turn617392search0″,”turn617392news12”]}/>

Why CAF changed its decision

In December 2025, CAF announced plans to move AFCON to a four-year cycle, with the intention of introducing a new African Nations League to fill the gap between tournaments.

The proposal was part of efforts to restructure African football competitions and address challenges involving international football calendars and revenue generation.

However, the governing body subsequently recognised that the proposed Nations League would require several years before becoming financially self-sustaining.

CAF concluded that maintaining AFCON every two years was necessary to protect its commercial value and provide continued financial support for football development across the continent.

Motsepe said the decision was made in the best interests of African football and its member associations.

New AFCON schedule announced

Under the revised arrangement, the next AFCON will take place in 2027, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda jointly hosting the competition.

The following editions are scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033.

There will be no AFCON tournament in 2030 because the FIFA World Cup will take place that year. CAF has traditionally avoided scheduling its major national-team competition during a World Cup year.

The 2027 tournament will be particularly significant as the three East African countries prepare to jointly host Africa’s premier football competition.

Challenges with the football calendar

The return to a two-year cycle could also renew discussions about the difficulties AFCON creates for European club football.

Most recent editions have taken place during the European domestic season, meaning clubs have had to release African players for international duty.

The expansion of FIFA’s Club World Cup to 32 teams, which was staged in June and July 2025, also influenced CAF’s earlier scheduling plans.

Maintaining a biennial AFCON will require continued coordination with international football authorities and clubs to manage player availability and competition dates.

The latest decision comes after the controversial 2025 AFCON final, which saw Senegal initially crowned champions before CAF subsequently stripped them of the title and awarded it to Morocco.

With the two-year schedule restored, CAF says it is reaffirming AFCON’s importance to African football and its role in bringing together players, supporters and communities from across the continent and the African diaspora.