CAF Reverses Four-Year AFCON Plan, Restores Tournament to Two-Year Cycle
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reversed its decision to move the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to a four-year schedule, confirming that the continental tournament will return to its traditional two-year cycle.
The decision was unanimously approved by CAF’s Executive Committee on Thursday, October 29, 2026, following a review of the plan announced in December 2025.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe said the reversal was necessary to protect the financial and developmental interests of African football and its 54 member associations.
Under the abandoned arrangement, AFCON was expected to move to a four-year cycle from 2028, while a proposed Africa Nations League would take over as the continent’s biennial competition.
However, CAF acknowledged that the proposed Nations League would require several years to generate sufficient revenue to support football development and make the organisation’s competitions financially sustainable.
Under the revised calendar, the next AFCON will take place in 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Subsequent editions are scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033.
There will be no AFCON tournament in 2030, as CAF intends to avoid scheduling its national team competitions during the FIFA World Cup year.
The decision restores the tournament’s traditional biennial format after months of uncertainty surrounding its future schedule and the proposed replacement competition.
