CAF Reconsiders Plan to Stage AFCON Every Four Years

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is reviewing its plan to change the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from a biennial tournament to a four-year event, raising the possibility of retaining the competition’s traditional two-year cycle.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe disclosed this on Friday at the organisation’s strategy conference in Cape Verde, saying the governing body was reconsidering the proposed change.

“We’ve discussed it over the last few days,” Motsepe said.

“We are looking at everything, including having the Afcon coming back every two years. We are very clear, the matter is being reviewed.”

The tournament has been held every two years since 1968, except for a one-year interval between the 2012 and 2013 editions.

However, in December 2025, CAF announced plans to move to a four-year cycle after the 2027 edition, scheduled to be hosted in East Africa, and a proposed 2028 tournament.

The decision generated widespread criticism from football stakeholders across the continent, including national football associations concerned about its potential implications.

Several associations reportedly raised questions about the visibility of their national teams, the commercial consequences of the change and the tournament’s place in the international football calendar.

AFCON is one of the continent’s biggest sporting events, attracting millions of viewers and providing commercial opportunities for participating countries, sponsors and broadcasters.

The proposed change was expected to reshape the competition’s scheduling and its relationship with other international football tournaments.

Motsepe’s latest remarks suggest that CAF is open to reconsidering the plan, although the organisation has yet to announce a final decision on the tournament’s future schedule.

For now, the possibility of retaining the biennial format remains under review as CAF weighs the concerns of its member associations and the broader interests of African football.