The Confederation of African Football is reviewing its decision to stage the Africa Cup of Nations every four years, president Patrice Motsepe said on Friday, 9 October.
Speaking at CAF’s strategy conference in Cape Verde, Motsepe said discussions included the possibility of retaining the tournament’s traditional two-year cycle, according to Reuters.
His comments reopen the debate over the competition’s future calendar. They do not amount to an announced reversal of the four-year policy. reuters.com
What CAF previously announced
In December 2025, Motsepe announced that the 2027 finals in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda would proceed, followed by another edition in 2028.
After that, AFCON would take place every four years. CAF also proposed an annual African Nations League from 2029 to provide regular international competition and income between AFCON editions.
At the time, Motsepe said the restructuring was intended to strengthen CAF’s financial independence and bring African competitions into closer alignment with the FIFA calendar. reuters.com
CAF subsequently began commercial preparations around that timetable. Its official tender announcement, published on 23 July, sought a partner for the tournament’s media, broadcasting and sponsorship rights for 2028, 2032 and 2036. cafonline.com
A review, with no replacement timetable
Reuters reported that Motsepe said CAF was examining several matters discussed during the conference, including a return to AFCON every two years.
The report did not identify a deadline for that review or announce a replacement competition calendar.
For national associations, broadcasters and sponsors, the distinction matters: CAF had already begun planning commercial rights around four-year intervals. Any confirmed change would need to explain how those arrangements and the proposed Nations League would fit into the revised schedule.
For now, Motsepe’s comments establish that the policy is being reconsidered. They do not confirm that future AFCON editions will return to a two-year cycle.
