The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has restored the Africa Cup of Nations to a two-year cycle, reversing an earlier decision to hold the continental tournament every four years.
CAF said its Executive Committee unanimously approved the return to the biennial schedule. The next edition will be hosted jointly by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in 2027.
Schedule confirmed through 2033
Following the 2027 tournament, CAF has identified 2028, 2031 and 2033 as the years for subsequent Africa Cup of Nations editions. No tournament is scheduled for 2030.
CAF said the absence of a 2030 tournament maintains its tradition of not staging the competition in a year when the World Cup is held. The organisation did not provide exact dates or venues for the announced tournaments.
Reversal of previous plan
AFCON has traditionally been played every two years. CAF announced a surprise plan last December to move the competition to a four-year cycle, with the proposed CAF Nations League intended to become the continent’s biennial competition.
CAF said the proposed Nations League would take years to generate enough revenue to sustain African football. The supplied information does not state the current status of that proposal.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe said the decision to restore the two-year schedule was intended to support African football, the organisation’s 54 member associations and African players representing clubs outside the continent.
“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 said in a CAF statement.
The reversal follows earlier consideration by CAF of a return to the two-year schedule. The 2027 tournament in East Africa will now serve as the next edition under the restored format.
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