CAF reverses decision to hold AFCON every four years, confirms 2027, 2028, 2031 and 2033 tournaments

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially reversed its decision to stage the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years, announcing a return to the competition’s traditional biennial format.

According to a statement published on CAF’s official website on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the governing body’s Executive Committee unanimously approved the decision following a review of the four-year arrangement announced in December 2025.

CAF confirmed that the next AFCON will take place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in 2027, with subsequent tournaments scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033.

The decision followed discussions initiated by CAF President Patrice Motsepe during the organisation’s Strategy Conference in Cabo Verde from October 7 to 9.

CAF explained that the proposed African Nations League, originally intended to replace the biennial AFCON schedule, would require several years to generate sufficient financial resources to support African football.

Motsepe said the reversal was necessary to protect the interests of African football, its 54 member associations and African players competing abroad.

He expressed confidence that the 2027 tournament would succeed, adding that AFCON remained an important platform for celebrating Africa’s footballing talent, cultural diversity and unity.

The CAF president also explained that the competition would not be staged in 2030 because of the FIFA World Cup.

The latest decision represents a significant change from CAF’s December 2025 announcement, which proposed holding AFCON every four years after the 2028 edition.

That proposal attracted criticism from football stakeholders concerned about the tournament’s future and its importance to African national teams.

CAF maintained that restoring the two-year format would support football development and strengthen the continent’s flagship international competition.