CAF restores biennial AFCON with 2028, 2031 and 2033 editions confirmed

The Africa Cup of Nations will return to a two-year cycle after the Confederation of African Football reversed its decision to stage the tournament every four years. BBC Sport reported the change on Friday, following a review of the plan announced in December. The reversal restores the competition’s traditional frequency, although the confirmed editions do not immediately follow a regular biennial pattern.

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CAF’s executive committee unanimously approved the change on Thursday, according to the governing body’s statement. President Patrice Motsepe had signalled that the earlier decision would be reconsidered at CAF’s strategy conference in Cabo Verde, held from 7 to 9 October. The announcement follows that reassessment rather than introducing a proposal still awaiting a committee decision.

The financial outlook for the proposed Africa Nations League was central to the review. BBC Sport reported that CAF had intended the new competition to replace AFCON as its biennial event, but acknowledged that it would need several years to become self-sufficient. CAF said the time needed to deliver substantial funding and football-development benefits was among the reasons for revisiting the four-year model.

The next AFCON remains scheduled for 2027, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda sharing hosting duties. Motsepe confirmed that further editions would take place in 2028, 2031 and 2033. CAF linked the absence of a 2030 tournament to that year’s FIFA World Cup, explaining that confederation national-team finals should not coincide with the World Cup year.

The decision comes against a longstanding scheduling challenge. As BBC Sport noted, most recent AFCON tournaments have taken place during the European club season, creating difficulties for the football calendar. Restoring the two-year cycle determines how frequently the championship is intended to be held, but the announced years alone do not set out the precise match dates for each edition.

Motsepe said the committee had considered the interests of CAF’s 54 member associations and African players employed by clubs outside the continent. He also described AFCON as a gathering for African communities and the diaspora, alongside its sporting role. CAF presented the reversal as a measure to support the development of African football.