The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced late on Thursday, 29 October, that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will return to a two-year cycle, following a unanimous vote by its Executive Committee.
The CAF Executive Committee unanimously decided on Thursday, 29 October 2026, that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) would once again be held every two years.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe had announced at the confederation’s strategic conference, held in Cape Verde from 7 to 9 October 2026, that the Executive Committee would reconsider last year’s decision to move AFCON to a four-year cycle.
The review was prompted in particular by the realisation that the proposed new pan-African competition, the Nations League, which was intended to replace the current AFCON and be held every two years, would take several years to generate the substantial financial resources needed to make CAF competitions and African football globally competitive and financially self-sustaining, CAF said in a statement published on its official website.
“The CAF Executive Committee’s decision to reinstate the Africa Cup of Nations every two years is aimed at advancing, protecting and promoting the interests of African football and CAF’s 54 Member Associations, as well as those of African players playing for clubs outside the continent,” Motsepe said in the statement.
“The next edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations will take place in 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and I am confident it will be a great success. The following editions will be held in 2028, 2031 and 2033,” Motsepe said.
“We were also concerned about the number of years it would take for the proposed new pan-African competition, the Nations League, designed to be identical to the current AFCON and held every two years, to generate the substantial financial contributions and returns needed to develop African football and make CAF competitions globally competitive and financially self-sustaining,” the South African added.
The next FIFA World Cup is scheduled for 2030. In keeping with FIFA tradition, the final tournaments of AFCON and other national-team competitions organised by the continental confederations may not be held in a FIFA World Cup year, he said.
“The CAF Executive Committee’s decision best serves the interests of African football and CAF’s 54 Member Associations. It will also make a significant contribution to the development and growth of football in Africa,” the CAF president concluded.
AK/Sf/lb/as/APA