The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reversed its decision to hold the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years, restoring the tournament’s traditional two-year cycle.
The decision was unanimously approved by the CAF Executive Committee at its meeting on Thursday, October 29, 2026.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe had earlier announced at the organisation’s strategy conference in Cabo Verde that the committee would reconsider its December 2025 decision to move AFCON to a four-year schedule.
The reversal followed concerns over the proposed Africa Nations League, which was expected to replace AFCON as the continent’s biennial competition.
CAF said the new competition would take several years to generate the financial resources needed to support African football and make its competitions globally competitive and financially sustainable.
Motsepe said restoring the two-year cycle would protect the interests of African football, CAF’s 54 member associations and African players playing for clubs outside the continent.
The next AFCON will take place in 2027, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda serving as co-hosts. Subsequent editions are scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033.
There will be no AFCON in 2030 because of the FIFA World Cup scheduled for that year.
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