The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reversed its plan to hold the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years. The competition will return to its traditional two year cycle following a unanimous decision by the CAF Executive Committee on Thursday.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe had recently said the committee would review the proposed change during the continent’s strategy conference in Cabo Verde.
The original plan formed part of a wider proposal to launch a new Africa Nations League. CAF intended the tournament to take over from AFCON as Africa’s biennial national team competition.
However, the governing body recognised that building the new competition into a financially sustainable and globally competitive tournament would take several years.
Motsepe Confirms Future AFCON Schedule
Explaining the decision, CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe said:
“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. We were also concerned by the several years required before the proposed new Africa Nations League Pan-African competition, (which was supposed to be identical to the current AFCON and take place Every Two Years), could make the substantial financial and football development contributions for African Football and CAF competitions to be globally competitive and self-supporting. The next TotalEnergies CAF AFCON will take place in 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and I am confident that it will be very successful. The subsequent AFCONs thereafter will take place in 2028, 2031 and 2033. The forthcoming FIFA World Cup will take place in 2030 and in accordance with the FIFA tradition, the final tournament of the AFCON and other Confederations National Teams competitions may not take place during the year of the FIFA World Cup. The AFCON competition is also about celebrating African Football and Africa’s rich and diverse cultures, customs and traditions and bringing people together from Africa’s 54 Countries, the African Diaspora and throughout the world. The CAF EXCO decision is in the best interest of African Football and CAF’s 54 Member Associations and will also contribute significantly to the development and growth of football in Africa,” Motsepe was quoted by CAFonline.
The next AFCON will take place in 2027, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda serving as co hosts. CAF has also confirmed that the following editions will take place in 2028, 2031 and 2033.
The 2030 FIFA World Cup influenced the revised schedule. Motsepe said the final stages of AFCON and other continental national team competitions would not take place in a World Cup year, in line with FIFA tradition.
CAF believes the return to a two year cycle will better serve its 54 member associations and African players. It also aims to support football development across the continent while protecting the competition’s financial strength and global standing.
