Algeria settles its stance: the countries in line to host the Africa Cup of Nations revealed

Press reports have revealed that Algeria has settled its position regarding bidding to host one of the next three editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to be held in 2028, 2031 and 2033.

According to information reported by the Algerian newspaper "Echorouk News", and highlighted most notably by the "Afrik-Foot" website, Algeria have no intention of bidding to host the tournament over the next seven years, closing the file on any of the three editions up for grabs.

That decision lands just as the race to stage the upcoming editions of the Africa Cup of Nations starts to take shape, with the Confederation of African Football rethinking how the tournament is hosted.

Libya and Ethiopia are the names in the frame for 2028, likely to run from 7 June to 19 July of that year.

Egypt have shown an appetite to host, as have South Africa, Lesotho and Zimbabwe with a three-way bid, but neither interest has yet become an official submission.

The 2031 edition, brought forward a year after the recent calendar amendments, has drawn declared interest from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Senegal could join the race later on.

No bid has been announced for 2033.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe announced in December 2025 the switch to staging the Africa Cup of Nations once every four years, and the organisation then opened the door in July for bids to host the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions.

Then came the U-turn. CAF reversed course on 30 October and confirmed a return to a two-year cycle, meaning the three editions after 2027 are now pencilled in for 2028, 2031 and 2033.

Doubts still hang over whether Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania can host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations on schedule next summer, with preparation works lagging less than a year out.

Move the tournament away from the three countries and the entire map could be redrawn. Egypt or South Africa might come back into the reckoning, especially with reports swirling that CAF have contacted both over the possibility of taking on the organisation.

Motsepe, for his part, still officially denies any intention to shift the 2027 edition away from the current hosts.

Algeria had entered the race to host the 2025 and 2027 editions before pulling out just two days before the winning country was announced.

Reports also placed Algeria among the countries contacted about hosting the 2027 edition, alongside Morocco, who staged the last tournament between December 2025 and January 2026, and Ivory Coast, who organised the one before in January and February 2024.