The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will continue to be played every two years after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) abandoned its controversial plan to extend the competition’s cycle to four years.
The reversal means the proposed African Nations League will no longer replace AFCON as the continent’s biennial football competition, with CAF opting to retain the tournament’s traditional schedule.
Also Read: Botswana Drops Out Of 2028 AFCON Bid, Leaving South Africa And Zimbabwe
CAF Explains Decision To Restore Two-Year AFCON Cycle
CAF’s Executive Committee unanimously approved the return to a two-year format, reversing the decision announced in December.
In a statement, the governing body said the move was intended to safeguard the interests of African football and its member associations.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe said the decision was also aimed at protecting African players, particularly those representing clubs outside the continent.
“The decision by the Executive Committee to reinstate the organisation of the AFCON every two years aims to advance, protect and promote the interests of African football and the 54 CAF Member Associations, as well as those of African players playing for clubs outside the continent,” Motsepe said.
African Nations League Plan Reconsidered
Under the abandoned arrangement, AFCON would have been staged once every four years, while a proposed African Nations League would have taken its place as the biennial competition.
However, CAF acknowledged that the new tournament would need several years to generate enough revenue to become financially self-sustaining.
The decision to restore AFCON’s traditional schedule therefore means the continent’s flagship national-team competition will retain its established place in the football calendar.
AFCON Calendar Set For 2027, 2028 And Beyond
The next edition of AFCON is scheduled for 2027, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda set to co-host the tournament.
Further editions are planned for 2028, 2031 and 2033. There will be no AFCON in 2030, as CAF intends to avoid holding the competition in the same year as the FIFA World Cup.
The biennial format has previously presented scheduling challenges, particularly because many editions have taken place during the European club season.
The expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup, staged in June and July 2025, also affected CAF’s scheduling considerations.
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