<a href="https://absafricatv.com/unesco-mobilizes-west-africa-to-safeguard-and/” title=”UNESCO Mobilizes West Africa to Safeguard and”>African football body reverses decision, keeps Africa Cup of Nations on 2-year cycle
CAF cites financial concerns over proposed Africa Nations League, says change aims to protect interests of African football
Halis Sünnetci
30 October 2026•Update: 30 October 2026
İSTANBUL
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced Thursday that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) would continue to be held every two years, reversing a decision last year to switch to a four-year cycle.
CAF’s Executive Committee unanimously approved the reversal after reviewing plans to introduce a new Africa Nations League competition.
The governing body said the proposed tournament would take several years to generate enough revenue to support African football development and make its competitions financially self-sustaining.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe said the decision was intended to protect the interests of the continent’s football community, its 54 member associations and African players competing for clubs abroad.
“We were also concerned by the several years required before the proposed new Africa Nations League Pan-African competition, (which was supposed to be identical to the current AFCON and take place Every Two Years), could make the substantial financial and football development contributions for African Football and CAF competitions to be globally competitive and self-supporting,” Motsepe said.
The next AFCON will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in 2027, with subsequent editions scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033.
Motsepe said the competition would not be held in 2030 to avoid a clash with the FIFA World Cup.
CAF announced plans in December 2025 to move AFCON to a four-year cycle, drawing criticism across African football.
Earlier this month, Motsepe said at a strategy conference in Cabo Verde that the governing body would reconsider the change.
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