The Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) unanimously agreed on Thursday that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will continue to be held every two years.
CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe announced the decision following the organisation’s Strategy Conference, held in Cabo Verde from October 7 to 9, 2026.
The move follows a reassessment of CAF’s previous plan to switch AFCON to a four-year cycle and introduce a new Africa Nations League, which would have been staged every two years as a replacement competition.
According to CAF, “this review was motivated in particular by the observation that the proposed new pan-African competition, the Nations League, which is to replace the current AFCON and be played every two years, would require several years before it could generate the substantial financial resources needed to allow CAF competitions and African football to be globally competitive and financially self-sufficient.”
Motsepe said the Executive Committee’s decision to reinstate the biennial AFCON format was aimed at advancing, protecting and promoting the interests of African football and CAF’s 54 Member Associations, as well as African players representing clubs outside the continent.
“We were also concerned about the number of years it would take before the proposed new pan-African competition, the Nations League, designed to be identical to the current AFCON and played every two years, could make the substantial financial contributions and spin-offs needed to develop African football, in order to make CAF competitions globally competitive and financially self-sustaining.”
Under the revised schedule, the next edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in 2027.
“I am confident that it will be a great success. The following editions will take place in 2028, 2031 and 2033,” the CAF president added.
CAF described AFCON as a celebration of African football and the continent’s rich and diverse cultures, customs and traditions, bringing together people from all 54 African nations, the African diaspora and communities around the world.
“The decision of the CAF Executive Committee is in the best interests of African football and the 54 CAF Member Associations. It will also contribute significantly to the development and growth of football in Africa.”