The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will continue to take place every two years after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) reversed its plan to make the tournament a four-year event.
CAF announced the decision on Thursday, following a unanimous vote by its Executive Committee. The competition has traditionally taken place every two years, but the governing body decided last December to change it to a four-year cycle. The proposal did not receive widespread support.
“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 said in a statement.
Under the previous plan, the proposed CAF Nations League would have become the continent’s biennial competition. However, CAF President Patrice Motsepe revealed earlier this month at a strategy conference in Cape Verde that the organisation was considering a return to the two-year AFCON schedule.
CAF also said the Nations League would take years to generate enough revenue to support African football.
Motsepe said the decision to restore the two-year cycle was aimed at protecting the interests of African football, its 54 member associations and African players who play for clubs outside the continent.
“The decision by the CAF Executive Committee to reinstate the organisation 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.
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will jointly host the 2027 AFCON. The following tournaments are scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033.
There will be no AFCON tournament in 2030, as CAF will maintain its tradition of avoiding the competition during a FIFA World Cup year.
