CAF restores two-year Afcon cycle and confirms future tournament years

The Africa Cup of Nations will return to a two-year cycle after the Confederation of African Football reversed its plan to hold the tournament every four years. Reuters reported that CAF announced the change on Thursday, October 29, following a unanimous decision by its executive committee. The four-year proposal had been announced in December 2025.

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The next edition remains scheduled for 2027, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda sharing hosting duties. Reuters reported that further tournaments are planned for 2028, 2031 and 2033. That sequence does not mean an uninterrupted two-year gap immediately: there will be consecutive editions in 2027 and 2028, followed by a three-year interval before the 2031 tournament. No edition is planned for 2030 because of the World Cup.

CAF's statement identified the finances of its proposed Africa Nations League as a reason for reconsidering the arrangement. The new competition had been intended to take over the biennial role occupied by Afcon. However, CAF said it would need several years before it could provide the level of funding required to help African football and the confederation's competitions support themselves and compete globally.

President Patrice Motsepe had signalled the review at CAF's strategy conference in Cabo Verde, held from October 7 to 9. In the statement announcing the reversal, he said the decision reflected the interests of African football, CAF's 54 member associations and African players employed by clubs outside the continent. He also linked the return to the tournament's contribution to football development.

The scheduling issue remains part of Afcon's wider calendar difficulties. BBC Sport reported that most recent editions have taken place during the European club season, and that the tournament's biennial frequency has long created calendar problems. Restoring the two-year policy is therefore a decision about how often the competition is held; the announced list of years does not by itself specify the match dates for each edition.

Motsepe also emphasised Afcon's cultural role, describing it as an occasion that connects the continent's countries, its diaspora and supporters worldwide. His explanation placed the tournament's importance beyond revenue alone, alongside its role in bringing together Africa's varied cultures and traditions.