Africa Cup of Nations could stay every two years as CAF reviews four-year switch

The Africa Cup of Nations could keep its traditional two-year rhythm. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has opened a review of the switch to a four-year cycle announced in late 2025, a change that met strong opposition from federations across the continent and is now back under discussion.

• CAF president Patrice Motsepe confirmed the tournament's frequency is under review.
• The move to a four-year cycle had been approved for after the 2027 and 2028 editions.
• National associations raised concerns about team visibility and commercial income.
• The Africa Cup of Nations has been played every two years since 1968, except between 2012 and 2013.

What Patrice Motsepe said about the Afcon calendar

Speaking at a CAF strategy conference in Cape Verde, Motsepe addressed the issue directly. The South African official explained that the topic has been part of the conversations over the past few days and that the organization is examining all options, including bringing the tournament back to a biennial format.

We have discussed it over the last few days. We are looking at everything, including having the Afcon coming back every two years. The matter is under review.

The original plan: 2027 and 2028 editions before the four-year shift

CAF's initial decision kept the tournament in place for 2027, hosted by East Africa, and for 2028, before moving to a four-year format. That approach would have repositioned the Africa Cup of Nations within the international football calendar, breaking with the rhythm maintained for more than half a century.

The competition has been held every two years since 1968. Only one scheduling adjustment broke that pattern: a one-year gap between the 2012 and 2013 editions to avoid a clash with the World Cup.

Why African federations pushed back against the four-year format

The proposal to stretch the interval between editions generated discontent across much of African football. National associations argued that a four-year cycle would reduce the exposure of their national teams and weaken the tournament's standing within the global game.

Commercial considerations also played a role. The Africa Cup of Nations is the region's main showcase, and spacing out its editions could affect broadcasting revenue, sponsorship deals and the day-to-day operations of federations that rely heavily on participation in the competition.

The last Afcon final is still tied up in court

While CAF debates the tournament's future schedule, the outcome of the most recent edition remains unresolved. Senegal filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport after being stripped of the title they believed they had won in January, leaving the official champion still in question.

What the Afcon calendar could look like in the coming years

If CAF ultimately reverses the change, the tournament would keep its biennial presence on the international calendar, with the next editions already assigned to East Africa in 2027 and another host in 2028. From there, the traditional rhythm would be restored.

No date has been confirmed for a final decision, but Motsepe's openness to reviewing the matter marks a significant shift from the December 2025 announcement and gives federations renewed hope of keeping their flagship competition every two seasons.