Caf restores Africa Cup of Nations to two-year cycle

Caf has unanimously agreed to return the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) to a two-year schedule, with president Patrice Motsepe saying the decision is intended to protect and advance the interests of African football.

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) executive committee (Exco) had decided last year that the tournament would be held every four years. However, Motsepe said earlier this month that the decision would be reassessed during the Caf strategy conference in Cabo Verde.

Caf said the review was prompted by the time needed to establish the proposed Africa Nations League Pan-African competition. That tournament was intended to replace the current Afcon and be played every two years, but would take several years before it could be introduced.

“The decision by the Caf exco that the Afcon should take place every two years was based on advancing, protecting and promoting the interest of African football and Caf’s 54 member associations, as well as the interest of African players employed by football clubs outside Africa,” said Motsepe.

He added that Caf had also considered the financial and sporting consequences of waiting for the proposed replacement competition to become operational.

“We were also concerned by the several years required before the proposed new Africa Nations League Pan-African competition (which was supposed to be identical to the current Afcon and take place every two years) could make the substantial financial and football development contributions for African football and Caf competitions to be globally competitive and self-supporting,” said Motsepe.

The next Afcon will be held in 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Motsepe said he was confident the tournament would be “very successful”, while confirming that the following editions are scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033.

The decision to avoid a 2030 tournament is linked to the Fifa World Cup, which will be staged that year.

“The forthcoming Fifa World Cup will take place in 2030, and in accordance with the Fifa tradition, the final tournament of the Afcon and other confederations’ national team competitions may not take place during the year of the Fifa World Cup,” Motsepe said.

He also stressed that Afcon was not solely a football competition, describing it as an event that brings together people from across the continent and beyond.

“The Afcon competition is also about celebrating African football and Africa’s rich and diverse cultures, customs and traditions and bringing people together from Africa’s 54 countries, the African diaspora, and throughout the world,” he said.

Motsepe said the revised schedule would support the wider development of the game on the continent.

“The Caf Exco’s decision is in the best interest of African football and Caf 54 member associations and will also contribute significantly to the development and growth of football in Africa.”