Afcon to return to two-year cycle after Caf u-turn

Caf reverses December decision; Afcon returns to biennial format starting 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

The Confederation of African Football has reversed its December decision to hold the African Cup of Nations every four years, reinstating the traditional two-year cycle.

Caf president Patrice Motsepe said the Executive Committee's decision "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." The governing body had initially planned to replace the biennial Afcon with an African Nations League but acknowledged it would take several years to generate sufficient revenue for self-sufficiency.

The next Afcon will be held in 2027, jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, followed by tournaments in 2028, 2031 and 2033. No tournament will take place in 2030 due to the World Cup. The biennial format has long created scheduling conflicts with the European club season, with most recent tournaments held mid-season.