AFCON back to every two years as CAF reverses decision

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reversed its decision to hold the Africa Cup of Nations every four years, restoring the tournament’s two-year cycle. In a post on X, CAF said its Executive Committee unanimously approved the return to the biennial schedule. “The Confédération Africaine de Football (‘CAF’) Executive Committee (‘EXCO’) today unanimously decided that the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (‘AFCON’) will return to taking place every Two Years,” the statement said.

The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) Executive Committee (“EXCO”) today unanimously decided that the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (“AFCON”) will return to taking place every Two Years. The President of CAF Dr Patrice Motsepe announced at the CAF Strategy Conference in Cabo Verde which was held from 7-9 October 2026, that the CAF EXCO would be re-assessing and reconsidering the decision it took last year, for the AFCON to take place every Four Years.

CAF Media (@CAF_Media) October 30, 2026 The decision follows an announcement by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe at the CAF Strategy Conference in Cabo Verde, held from October 7 to 9, 2026. At that conference, Motsepe said the Executive Committee would reassess the decision it took last year to stage AFCON every four years. The unanimous vote now overturns that move.

However, CAF’s post did not specify which edition would mark the start of the restored two-year cycle.