Afcon Returns to Two-Year Cycle After Caf Reverses Four-Year Plan

West Africa WeeklyOctober 30, 20261 Mins read5

The Africa Cup of Nations will return to its traditional two-year cycle after the Confederation of African Football reversed its decision to hold the tournament every four years. The U-turn was announced on Thursday, following a review of the earlier plan.

In December, Caf had announced that the tournament would move to a four-year cycle, with a new African Nations League intended to replace Afcon as the governing body’s biennial flagship competition. However, Caf has now acknowledged that the Nations League would take several years to generate the revenue required to become self-sufficient. The decision to reinstate the two-year cycle was taken by Caf’s Executive Committee.

Caf president Patrice Motsepe said the move was designed to protect the interests of African football. “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,” he said in a statement.

The biennial hosting of Afcon has long caused friction with the global football calendar, as the vast majority of recent tournaments have been staged midway through the European club season. The expansion of Fifa’s Club World Cup to 32 teams, held in June and July last year, also forced Caf to schedule Afcon in mid-season dates.

The next Afcon will take place in 2027, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda jointly hosting the tournament. Further editions are scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033. There will be no tournament in 2030 because of the World Cup.

The announcement comes as African football continues to deal with the fallout from the controversial 2025 Afcon final. Senegal were initially crowned champions after defeating Morocco in Rabat, but were stripped of the title three months later in favour of the host nation following a Caf Appeal Board ruling. Senegal have appealed that decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which is expected to issue its ruling by the end of November.