The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reversed its decision to hold the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years, restoring the traditional biennial cycle. The CAF Executive Committee unanimously approved the return to the two-year format, a change announced less than a year after plans for a four-year cycle were revealed.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe indicated the reversal during a strategy conference in Cape Verde. "The decision by the CAF Executive Committee to reinstate the organization 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," said Motsepe.
The financial sustainability of African football was central to the reversal. AFCON remains one of CAF's most important commercial assets, generating substantial income. The proposed Africa Nations League, which was meant to fill the gap between AFCON editions, would take several years to generate sufficient revenue. The four-year plan, announced in December 2025 and set to start in 2028, also envisioned expanding the tournament from 24 to 28 teams.
The decision ends months of uncertainty for national teams, preserving a regular platform for competition. For the Cape Verde national team, known as the Blue Sharks, the news comes just days before a key fixture. The next AFCON edition is set for 2027 and will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Due to the FIFA World Cup in 2030, there will be no AFCON that year, maintaining the historic pattern of being held every two years since 1968, with the sole exception of the 2012 and 2013 tournaments held in consecutive years. The first edition of the continental tournament was staged in 1957.
Background and full detail: dailysabah.com
