The African Cup of Nations (AFCON) will return to its traditional two-year cycle instead of four years. The U-turn was made by the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after a review.
In December 2025, CAF President Patrice Motsepe had announced that AFCON will be held every four years starting 2028. The African football tournament has taken place every two years since 1968, with a one-year gap between the 2012 and 2013 editions.
The CAF Executive Committee said it has decided to reinstate the organization of the Afcon every two years in order to advance, protect and promote the interests of African football, as well as those of African footballers playing for clubs outside the continent.
The biennial hosting of Afcon has long caused issues with the football calendar, with the vast majority of recent tournaments held midway through the European club season.
FIFA expanded 32-team Club World Cup was held in June and July this year, which also forced CAF to opt for mid-season dates.
The next Afcon will take place in 2027, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda jointly hosting the tournament, followed by editions in 2028, 2031 and 2033. There will be no tournament in 2030 because of the World Cup.
