CAF restores Africa Cup of Nations to a two-year cycle
CAF has reversed its move to a four-year Africa Cup of Nations schedule, restoring the two-year cycle by unanimous vote. The financial timetable for a proposed replacement competition helped drive the change. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda retain the 2027 tournament, with subsequent editions announced for 2028, 2031 and 2033.
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A unanimous reversal of the four-year plan
The Confederation of African Football (CAF), the continent’s football governing body, has restored the Africa Cup of Nations to a two-year cycle. Its executive committee unanimously approved the change announced on 29 October. The decision reverses the plan adopted the previous year to hold the national-team tournament once every four years. CAF president Patrice Motsepe had first announced that proposal in December, immediately before the Morocco 2025 tournament. It drew a mixed response. At a strategy conference in Cabo Verde from 7–9 October, Motsepe said the executive committee would reconsider the arrangement. The new decision follows that reassessment of the tournament’s frequency.[1], [2]
Replacement league needs years to generate funding
The funding timetable for a proposed Africa Nations League was one of the reasons for the reversal. The planned pan-African national-team competition was intended to replace the existing Africa Cup of Nations and take place every two years. CAF said several years would be needed before it could contribute the substantial financial resources required by African football and the confederation’s competitions. The stated goal was to make those competitions globally competitive and financially self-supporting. Motsepe said the return to biennial tournaments was intended to advance and protect African football’s interests, including those of CAF’s 54 member associations and African players employed by clubs outside the continent.[1], [2]
East Africa retains 2027 as later dates are set
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda remain joint hosts of the next tournament in 2027. Motsepe confirmed those hosts and expressed confidence that the event would be successful. He listed the following editions as 2028, 2031 and 2033. The transition therefore includes a one-year interval after 2027 and a three-year gap after 2028, alongside the restored two-year policy. Motsepe cited the 2030 World Cup and the tradition of keeping confederation national-team finals out of a World Cup year. Morocco will co-host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal. Hosts for the Africa Cup of Nations tournaments after 2027 were not named in the announcement.[1], [2]
