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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has scrapped plans to hold the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years, confirming on Thursday that the continent’s premier tournament will return to its traditional biennial schedule.
The unanimous decision by the CAF Executive Committee reverses a resolution made last year.
According to the organisation, the U-turn was driven by the realisation that a proposed biennial Nations League, intended to replace AFCON, would not generate the necessary funding for years.
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CAF stated that the financial viability of its competitions and the broader development of African football required the immediate revenue that AFCON provides.
“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,” CAF President Patrice Motsepe said in a statement.
“We were also concerned about the number of years it would take for the proposed new pan-African competition, the Nations League, designed to be identical to the current AFCON and to be played every two years, to provide the substantial financial contributions and benefits needed for the development of African football, in order to make CAF competitions globally competitive and financially self-sustaining.”
The next tournament is scheduled for 2027, with Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda serving as co-hosts.
The biennial rhythm will see subsequent editions held in 2028, 2031, and 2033.
To avoid clashing with global football calendars, CAF confirmed that the tournament will not be held in the same year as the FIFA World Cup, which is next scheduled for 2030.
“The next FIFA World Cup will take place in 2030. In accordance with FIFA tradition, the final phase of the AFCON and those of other national team competitions of the confederations may not be held during the year of the FIFA World Cup.”
