The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially restored the Africa Cup of Nations to its traditional two-year cycle, reversing the earlier decision to stage the tournament every four years.
The Executive Committee unanimously approved the change on Thursday, October 29, ending months of uncertainty that followed CAF’s December 2025 announcement that AFCON would switch to a four-year format after the 2028 edition. The decision came after a reassessment of the financial and calendar implications of the proposed shift.
Under the abandoned plan, AFCON would have been held every four years while a new Africa Nations League was expected to take place every two years. CAF later acknowledged that the Nations League would require several years to generate sufficient revenue to support African football and its 54 member associations.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe emphasised that retaining the biennial format protects AFCON’s vital financial contribution to the development of the game across the continent. He also noted the need to balance the interests of African players based overseas with those of national associations.
CAF has confirmed that the 2027 edition will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda under the banner AFCON PAMOJA 2027, running from June 19 to July 17. The 2028 tournament has been brought forward to maintain the two-year cycle, while there will be no AFCON in 2030 due to the FIFA World Cup, with subsequent editions planned for 2031 and 2033.
The decision closes the chapter on the proposed four-year format and reaffirms AFCON’s position as one of African football’s most important competitions, delivering regular high-level matches, commercial opportunities and a platform that unites the continent.
