The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Thursday, October 29, that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will return to a two-year cycle following a unanimous vote by its Executive Committee.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe had announced at a strategic conference in Cape Verde, held from October 7 to 9, that the committee would “reconsider the decision taken last year to move AFCON to a four-year cycle.”
In its statement, CAF explained the reasons behind the review, saying: “This review was prompted in particular by the recognition that the proposed new pan-African competition, the Nations League, intended to replace the current AFCON and be held every two years, would require several years before it could generate the substantial financial resources needed to make CAF competitions and African football globally competitive and financially self-sustaining.”
Motsepe said: “The decision by the CAF Executive Committee to reinstate the organization of AFCON every two years is intended to advance, protect and promote the interests of African football and CAF’s 54 Member Associations, as well as those of African players playing for clubs outside the continent. The next edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations will take place in 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and I am confident it will be a great success. The following editions will be held in 2028, 2031 and 2033.”
Read also : Football: Motsepe signals possible U-turn on AFCON every four years
The gap between the 2028 and 2031 editions is due to the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal. Continental competitions traditionally do not take place in the same year as the World Cup.
Motsepe first announced the plan to move AFCON to a four-year cycle last December, on the eve of the Morocco 2025 tournament, a proposal that drew a mixed response at the time. Following this reversal, it is now a thing of the past.
Patrice Motsepe suit les préparatifs à Nairobi
