Major AFCON change confirmed by CAF with next four tournaments revealed

The Africa Cup of Nations is to revert to every two years, walking back a move to host the tournament every four years, Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed.

The governing body insists the move will better fund the development of African football, with doubts over the proposed CAF Nations League as the biennial competition.

AFCON had traditionally been a biennial tournament, until last December’s surprise move by CAF to shift towards a four-year cycle, much like the Euros for Uefa and the Copa America for Conmebol.

A statement read: "The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee today unanimously decided that the CAF Africa Cup of Nations will return to taking place every Two Years.”

Under the previous plan, AFCON would have moved to a four-year cycle, with the proposed CAF Nations League becoming the continent's biennial competition.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe said at a strategy conference in Cape Verde earlier this month that the organisation was considering returning AFCON to a two-year cycle.

CAF said the Nations League would take years to generate enough revenue to sustain African football.

"The decision by the CAF Executive Committee to reinstate the organization of the AFCON every two years 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," Motsepe said in a statement.

Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will co-host the next edition in 2027, with subsequent tournaments to be held in 2028, 2031 and 2033.

There will be no AFCON in 2030, with CAF maintaining its tradition of not staging the tournament in a World Cup year.