CAF confirms return to holding the Africa Cup of Nations every two years

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced today that its executive committee had unanimously decided to return to organizing the Africa Cup of Nations finals every two years, reversing a previous decision to hold the tournament once every four years.

Earlier this month, CAF President Patrice Motsebe announced that the continental body would reconsider the decision made last year to switch the tournament to a quadrennial format.

In a statement issued by the federation, Motsebe explained that this shift was driven by concerns over the lengthy timeline required to launch the proposed new African competition, the Africa Cup of Nations League, which was designed to mirror the current Africa Cup of Nations format and be held biennially.

He added that the federation was concerned about the time needed before this new competition could generate significant financial contributions and essential revenues to develop African football, thereby enabling continental competitions to compete globally and achieve financial independence.

Under the new decision, the next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will take place in 2027, as scheduled, in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, with subsequent editions to be held in 2028, 2031, and 2033.

Motsebe clarified that the three-year gap between the 2028 and 2031 editions is intended to avoid clashing with the 2030 FIFA World Cup finals.

The outcome of the 2025 Africa Cup title remains unresolved. On January 18 in Rabat, Senegal was awarded the trophy on the field after defeating Morocco 1-0 in a match marred by chaotic scenes in its final minutes, following the walkout of many Senegalese players in protest of refereeing decisions.

However, CAF’s Appeal Committee later awarded the victory to Morocco administratively. The Senegalese Football Federation has since filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which is expected to issue its decision in late November.