CAF Considers Reversing Decision to Move AFCON to Four-Year Cycle

The Africa Cup of Nations could remain a biennial event as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) re-evaluates its future schedule. Discussions are currently taking place to potentially scrap a previously announced plan that would have seen the continent's flagship tournament move to a four-year cycle.

During a recent strategy conference held in Cape Verde, CAF President Patrice Motsepe confirmed that the governing body is looking into the matter. The shift back to the traditional format follows significant internal debate regarding the competition's impact and timing.

"We are looking at everything, including having the Afcon coming back every two years."

Patrice Motsepe

Historically, the tournament has been held every two years since 1968, with only one exception during the transition between 2012 and 2013. However, in December 2025, the federation had announced a major change, stating the competition would move to a quadrennial format following the 2028 edition.

Concerns Over Visibility and Revenue

The proposed move to a four-year gap faced widespread criticism from national associations across Africa. Many officials expressed concern that less frequent tournaments would diminish the visibility of their national teams and negatively affect commercial opportunities.

There were also questions regarding how the tournament would fit into an increasingly crowded international football calendar. CAF is now weighing these commercial and sporting implications as they decide whether to uphold the tradition of hosting the event every two years.