The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reversed its decision to stage the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years, confirming that the tournament will continue every two years.
The CAF Executive Committee unanimously approved the return to the biennial format following its Strategy Conference in Cabo Verde.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced the decision, saying it was taken to protect the interests of African football, its 54 member associations and players competing for clubs outside the continent.
Motsepe said CAF reconsidered its earlier plan to introduce a four-year AFCON cycle and replace the biennial tournament with a new Africa Nations League.
He explained that the proposed competition would take several years to generate the financial resources needed to support football development and make African competitions globally competitive and financially sustainable.
“The decision by the CAF EXCO that the CAF AFCON should take place every Two Years was based on advancing, protecting and promoting the interest of African Football and CAF’s 54 Member Associations,” Motsepe said.
He added that the organisation was concerned about the time required for the proposed Africa Nations League to deliver the expected financial and developmental benefits.
Under the revised calendar, the next AFCON will take place in 2027, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda jointly hosting the competition.
The subsequent editions are scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033, with CAF maintaining that the tournament will not coincide with the FIFA World Cup.
Motsepe expressed confidence in the three East African countries’ ability to deliver a successful tournament.
“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,” he said.
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 a World Cup year.
Motsepe further described AFCON as more than a football competition, saying it provides an opportunity to celebrate Africa’s cultural diversity and bring people together.
“The AFCON competition is also about celebrating African Football and Africa’s rich and diverse cultures, customs and traditions and bringing people together from Africa’s 54 Countries, the African Diaspora and throughout the world,” he said.
The reversal marks a major change in CAF’s competition calendar plans, retaining AFCON as the continent’s flagship national team tournament while reconsidering its proposed Africa Nations League strategy.
