The decision means the Africa Cup of Nations will return to a biennial schedule, with the 2027 edition set to be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, followed by tournaments in 2028, 2031 and 2033.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reversed its plan to stage the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years, announcing that the continental football tournament will retain its traditional two-year format.

The decision was unanimously approved by CAF's Executive Committee following a review of the proposed changes to the organisation's international competition calendar.

CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, announced the reversal after the confederation's Strategy Conference in Cabo Verde, held from October 7 to 9, 2026.

The latest decision marks a significant shift from CAF's earlier proposal to move AFCON to a four-year cycle while introducing a biennial Africa Nations League as an alternative competition.

However, Motsepe explained that the proposed Nations League would take several years to generate the financial resources and football development benefits CAF had anticipated.

According to him, retaining the two-year AFCON schedule is currently the most practical way to protect the interests of African football, the confederation's 54 member associations and African players competing for clubs outside the continent.

In a statement published on CAF's official website on Thursday, Motsepe said the Executive Committee reached its decision after considering the wider implications for African football.

He said: “The decision by the CAF EXCO that the CAF 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.”

The CAF president noted that although the proposed Africa Nations League was designed to follow a format similar to AFCON and take place every two years, it would not deliver the expected financial and developmental benefits quickly enough.

He added that the confederation needed a competition structure capable of supporting the growth of African football without creating prolonged uncertainty over its major tournament.

Under the revised arrangement, the next Africa Cup of Nations will take place in 2027, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda jointly hosting the competition.

The subsequent editions are scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033, while CAF maintains that AFCON will not be held in a FIFA World Cup year.

Motsepe also expressed confidence in the three East African host nations, saying he believed they had the capacity to organise a successful tournament in 2027.

Beyond the competition itself, the CAF president described AFCON as an important platform for showcasing Africa's football talent, cultural diversity and shared heritage.

He said the tournament brings together people from Africa's 54 countries, the African diaspora and communities across the world.

Motsepe added that retaining the biennial format would contribute significantly to the development and growth of football across the continent.

The reversal is expected to provide greater certainty for African football stakeholders, particularly national teams, players, supporters and commercial partners who had been awaiting clarity over the future of the continent's flagship football competition.