AFCON Reverts to Biennial Schedule After CAF Reverses Quadrennial Plan

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will revert to being held every two years, reversing a previous decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to move to a four-year cycle. The governing body announced the change, stating that the previously proposed CAF Nations League would require years to generate sufficient revenue to support African football.

AFCON has traditionally been a biennial tournament, and CAF's surprise move to a quadrennial schedule in December was met with disapproval. "The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee today unanimously decided that the CAF Africa Cup of Nations will return to taking place every Two Years," CAF stated.

Under the earlier plan, AFCON would have shifted to a four-year cycle, with the CAF Nations League intended to become the continent's biennial competition. CAF President Patrice Motsepe had indicated earlier this month at a strategy conference in Cape Verde that the organization was considering a return to the two-year cycle for AFCON.

CAF explained that the Nations League would need considerable time to become financially sustainable for African football. "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," Motsepe added in a statement.

The next AFCON tournament is scheduled to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda in 2027. Subsequent editions will follow in 2028, 2031, and 2033. There will be no AFCON in 2030, as CAF will maintain its tradition of not holding the tournament in a World Cup year.