The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reversed its decision to stage the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years, restoring the tournament's traditional two-year format following a unanimous vote by its Executive Committee.
The decision, announced on Thursday, October 29, overturns a restructuring plan introduced in December 2025 that would have changed the frequency of Africa's premier national team competition after the 2028 edition.
Under the abandoned arrangement, CAF had planned to introduce an Africa Nations League to take place every two years, effectively replacing AFCON during the intervening period. The new competition was expected to provide an alternative platform for national teams while generating additional revenue for the governing body.
However, CAF President Patrice Motsepe said the proposed Nations League would take several years to generate the substantial financial resources required to support African football and make the continent's competitions globally competitive and self-sustaining.
Motsepe had indicated earlier this month that CAF would reconsider the four-year arrangement during the organisation's Strategy Conference in Cabo Verde, held from October 7 to 9.
In its announcement, CAF said restoring the biennial format was intended to protect the interests of African football, its 54 member associations and players representing clubs outside the continent.
The reversal also changes the competition's future calendar, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda set to host the next edition in 2027. The three countries are preparing to stage the tournament jointly, marking a major opportunity for East African football.
CAF has listed subsequent editions for 2028, 2031 and 2033. The 2030 tournament will not be held because the FIFA World Cup is scheduled for that year, with CAF maintaining that continental national team competitions should not coincide with the global showpiece.
The announced dates do not follow an uninterrupted two-year sequence, with the 2027 and 2028 editions scheduled in consecutive years before the calendar moves to 2031 and 2033.
The proposed Africa Nations League had been central to CAF's original restructuring plan, but the governing body now considers that competition would take too long to deliver the financial and developmental benefits needed to replace AFCON.
Motsepe said the Executive Committee's decision was in the best interests of African football and would contribute to the development and growth of the game across the continent.
The reversal preserves AFCON's established role as CAF's flagship national team competition while placing the 2027 co-hosts at the centre of the next edition under the restored format.
