AFCON to remain a biennial tournament after CAF reverses four-year plan

The Africa Cup of Nations will continue to be played every two years after the Confederation of African Football Executive Committee unanimously overturned plans to move the tournament to a four-year cycle after 2028.

The decision was announced on Thursday, 29 October 2026, with CAF saying it had prioritised the financial health of African football and the interests of its 54 member associations.

CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe had indicated earlier this month that the schedule was under review during the CAF Strategy Conference in Cabo Verde. He said the proposed Africa Nations League, which was intended to replace the biennial AFCON, would take several years before generating significant revenue.

“The decision by the CAF EXCO that the CAF AFCON should take place every Two Years was based on advancing, protecting and promoting the interest of African Football and CAF’s 54 Member Associations, as well as the interest of African players employed by Football Clubs outside Africa,” Motsepe said.

He added that the Africa Nations League would require too much time to become “globally competitive and self-supporting”.

The next tournament will still be staged in 2027 by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, marking the first joint hosting by East African countries. Further editions are scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033, with no AFCON planned for 2030 in keeping with the tradition surrounding FIFA World Cup years.

Why the schedule changed

AFCON was first held in 1957 in Sudan with three teams - Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia - and became a regular biennial competition from 1968. The tournament moved to odd-numbered years in 2013 to reduce clashes with the World Cup.

The competition expanded to 16 teams in the late 1990s and then to 24 teams in 2019. Its position in the calendar has shifted between winter and summer because of climate, European club schedules and other FIFA events, although the two-year format remained largely intact until the attempted reform in 2025.

CAF announced in December 2025, during the Morocco edition, that it intended to hold AFCON every four years. The plan was designed to bring the competition into line with the European Championship and FIFA World Cup cycle, while an annual Africa Nations League was due to begin in 2029 and provide a more consistent source of income.

AFCON has traditionally accounted for about 80% of CAF’s revenue, making the proposed four-year gap a significant financial risk.

Most CAF member associations reportedly supported the return to a biennial tournament, with estimates suggesting about 90% were in favour. Supporters say the format helps national-team development, provides more competitive fixtures, increases players’ visibility to European clubs and preserves regular hosting and economic opportunities across Africa.

Ivory Coast manager Herve Renard and DR Congo manager Sebastien Desabre were among the coaches to publicly support the two-year cycle. They cited its benefits for team development and the loss of CHAN as reasons to retain frequent top-level international matches.

Opponents had warned of fixture congestion for Africa-based players at European clubs, disruption caused by mid-season international absences and the possibility that a less frequent tournament could increase its commercial value.

FIFA had previously proposed a four-year model, while Motsepe had initially defended the change as a way to achieve greater “synchronisation” and financial independence. Following consultations, he placed greater emphasis on African priorities.

The reversal protects CAF’s main source of income in the short term and maintains AFCON as the continent’s leading international competition. It also preserves more frequent hosting opportunities, infrastructure investment and continental exposure for players, while delaying or reducing the immediate importance of the Nations League project.

Motsepe said he was confident the 2027 tournament “will be very successful”, with CAF presenting the decision as a response to member associations and the financial realities of African football.