The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially reversed its controversial proposal to hold the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years, confirming a complete return to its traditional biennial schedule. The decision was unanimously ratified during a CAF Executive Committee meeting following the organisation’s Strategy Conference held in Cabo Verde. ​
In December 2025, CAF had proposed transitioning AFCON to a four-year cycle after the 2028 edition while introducing a new biennial Africa Nations League to fill intermediate gaps. However, following intense financial and structural evaluations, the Executive Committee concluded that the proposed league would require too many years to become globally competitive, self-sustaining, and commercially viable. ​
In an official statement released on Friday morning, CAF President Patrice Motsepe emphasized that reverting to the biennial cadence prioritises the overall health of African sports infrastructure and player welfare. ​”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,” stated Motsepe. ​
Under the newly confirmed international calendar, CAF will preserve its premier national team competition without staging editions in FIFA World Cup years. The 2027 AFCON will proceed as planned, co-hosted across East Africa by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, followed by a 2028 edition that maintains the two-year cadence ahead of the 2030 World Cup window.
The competition will then resume its biennial rhythm with subsequent tournaments scheduled for 2031 and 2033. ​Motsepe reiterated full confidence in the tripartite East African host nations to deliver state-of-the-art infrastructure and top-tier venues for the 2027 showpiece. Further details regarding exact match kickoff times and stadium allocations across Nairobi, Kampala, and Dar es Salaam will be released in upcoming CAF operational updates.
