The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reversed its decision to stage the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years
CAF announced that the tournament will return to its traditional two-year cycle.
The decision was unanimously approved by the CAF Executive Committee, with President Patrice Motsepe announcing the development after the organisation’s Strategy Conference in Cabo Verde, held from October 7 to 9, 2026.
The reversal comes after CAF reviewed its earlier plan to move AFCON to a four-year schedule and introduce an Africa Nations League as a biennial competition.
CAF said the proposed Nations League would take several years to generate the financial resources and football development benefits required to make its competitions globally competitive and financially sustainable.
In a statement published on its website on Thursday, Motsepe said the decision to retain the two-year AFCON cycle was taken in the interest of African football, the confederation’s 54 member associations and African players playing for clubs outside the continent.
“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,” he said.
Motsepe added that CAF was concerned about the time it would take for the proposed Africa Nations League to deliver the financial and developmental gains initially expected from the competition.
He said the new tournament was intended to mirror the existing AFCON format and take place every two years, but would not provide the required support for African football in the immediate future.
Under the revised calendar, the next AFCON will take place in 2027, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda jointly hosting the tournament.
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