The decision was unanimously approved by the CAF Executive Committee on Thursday, 29 October 2026, following consultations with the confederation’s 54 member associations.
The move reverses the restructuring announced in December 2025, which proposed that AFCON would move to a four-year schedule after the 2028 edition, with a new African Nations League introduced in 2029.
CAF abandons four-year AFCON plan
CAF President Patrice Motsepe had indicated earlier in October that the Executive Committee would reconsider the decision during the organisation’s strategy conference in Cape Verde, held from 7 to 9 October.
The review included consultations with all 54 member associations, which were asked to submit their positions on whether AFCON should continue every two years or move to a four-year cycle.
According to CAF, feedback from the associations showed broad support for retaining the traditional biennial format.
Motsepe said the decision was intended to protect and promote the interests of African football, CAF’s member associations and African players competing for clubs outside the continent.
Africa Nations League plan influenced decision
The proposed Africa Nations League was a major part of CAF’s earlier restructuring plan. It was designed to bring together national teams in a new competition held every two years, effectively taking over the biennial slot previously occupied by AFCON.
However, CAF acknowledged that the new competition would require several years to generate the financial resources needed to support the development of African football and make its competitions more financially sustainable.
The Executive Committee therefore opted to retain AFCON, an established tournament with a recognised commercial and media profile, rather than depend on a new competition that would take time to deliver the expected financial benefits.
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to host next AFCON
The decision also confirms the continuation of preparations for the next AFCON, which will be hosted jointly by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
CAF's official announcement sets out the following schedule:
• 2027: AFCON in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda
• 2028: Next edition of AFCON
• 2030: No AFCON, as the year will feature the FIFA World Cup
• 2031: AFCON
• 2033: AFCON
The revised calendar means African football will retain its flagship national-team competition every two years, while avoiding a clash with the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
A significant change for African football
The return to a biennial AFCON cycle represents a major reversal in CAF’s competition strategy. It preserves the tournament’s established place in the African football calendar and maintains an important source of revenue and visibility for the confederation and its member associations.
For African players based abroad, the decision also keeps AFCON as a regular part of the international football schedule, although its timing will continue to require coordination with clubs and other competitions.
CAF’s latest decision brings an end to the proposed move towards a four-year AFCON cycle and confirms that the continent’s premier national-team tournament will continue every two years.