The Confederation of African Football (CAF) could reconsider its controversial decision to organise the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years, with reports indicating that the governing body’s executive committee is expected to discuss a possible reversal.
The development could reshape the future of Africa’s biggest international football competition, which has traditionally been held every two years. CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced in December 2025 that the tournament would move to a four-year schedule after the 2027 edition, with the change initially expected to take effect from 2028.
However, the proposal attracted criticism from sections of the African football community, including supporters who believe the biennial competition is an important part of the continent’s football culture.
According to a report by journalist Romain Molina, CAF’s executive committee is expected to consider whether the four-year arrangement should be abandoned.
No official reversal has been announced. The reported discussions should therefore not be interpreted as confirmation that AFCON will return to its traditional two-year schedule.
The issue is particularly important for African national teams, football supporters, host countries and commercial partners, all of whom depend on a predictable tournament calendar to plan their activities.
Why CAF Wanted AFCON Every Four Years
Motsepe’s announcement was part of a broader effort to reorganise African football competitions and address scheduling challenges affecting international football.
Under the original plan, AFCON would continue with the 2027 tournament in East Africa before adopting a four-year cycle. The move was intended to bring the competition closer to the schedule used by other major international football tournaments.
The decision also came amid growing concerns about the crowded football calendar, with national team competitions increasingly competing for space alongside domestic leagues, European club competitions and FIFA tournaments.
African players based in Europe and other overseas leagues are frequently required to leave their clubs for AFCON, creating challenges for teams and coaches during the competition period.
A four-year cycle could provide greater predictability for clubs and national teams while allowing CAF to develop other competitions during the intervening years.
However, critics argue that reducing AFCON’s frequency could weaken one of the continent’s most important sporting traditions.
The possibility of reversing the decision suggests that CAF may be reassessing how best to balance international scheduling demands with the interests of African football.
African Football Community Opposed the Change
AFCON’s biennial format has helped make the tournament a regular feature of the African sporting calendar for decades.
For supporters, the competition is more than a championship. It offers countries an opportunity to compete for continental honours, showcases African football talent and brings communities together around their national teams.
Holding the tournament every two years also gives national teams more frequent opportunities to compete for a major trophy.
Critics of the proposed four-year schedule have expressed concern that a longer wait between editions could reduce the competition’s visibility and commercial appeal.
A less frequent tournament could also affect the opportunities available to sponsors, broadcasters, host cities and businesses that benefit from the event.
For countries hoping to host AFCON, the change could mean fewer opportunities to stage the competition and attract the associated tourism and investment.
These concerns have contributed to the debate over whether the four-year cycle would ultimately benefit African football.
Nevertheless, supporters of the reform argue that a less crowded schedule could improve preparation, reduce conflicts with club football and create room for other continental competitions.
The challenge for CAF is to determine which arrangement offers the greatest long-term benefits for the sport.
African Nations League Could Face Uncertainty
One of the biggest questions surrounding a possible reversal concerns the African Nations League, a competition CAF announced as part of its plans to reorganise the international football calendar.
The proposed league is scheduled to begin in 2029 and was designed partly to provide meaningful national-team football between AFCON editions.
Under the four-year model, the new competition could help maintain regular international fixtures while giving national teams additional opportunities to compete.
However, if CAF returns to a two-year AFCON schedule, the governing body may need to reconsider how the Nations League fits into the calendar.
More frequent AFCON tournaments could leave less room for another major competition, depending on how fixtures and international windows are arranged.
CAF would also need to consider the financial implications of changing its plans, including potential effects on broadcasting agreements, sponsorship packages and tournament organisation.
At present, there is no confirmed announcement detailing what would happen to the African Nations League if the AFCON format were changed.
Its future will likely depend on the outcome of any formal review and the competition structure ultimately adopted by CAF.
Host Selection for AFCON 2028 Adds to the Challenge
The reported reconsideration comes as CAF continues preparations for future AFCON tournaments.
In July 2026, the organisation invited its member associations to submit bids to host the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions. The host country for the 2028 tournament had not been confirmed in the report.
The bidding process is important because hosting AFCON requires substantial planning, including stadium development, transport arrangements, accommodation, security and other supporting infrastructure.
Any decision to alter the tournament’s frequency could affect the timetable and planning assumptions used by prospective hosts.
Countries preparing bids would need clarity about the competition’s future schedule before committing to major investments.
CAF would also have to consider how a revised format might affect existing agreements and preparations for subsequent editions.
The governing body has emphasised the importance of a structured bidding process for future tournaments, but the reported review raises questions about whether additional planning adjustments may become necessary.
For prospective hosts, a clear and stable calendar is essential to estimating costs and assessing the potential benefits of staging the competition.
Financial Considerations Behind the AFCON Debate
AFCON is a major commercial property for African football, generating revenue through television rights, sponsorships, ticket sales and related business activities.
The frequency of the tournament can significantly influence its commercial value.
A four-year cycle could allow CAF to position each edition as a less frequent event, potentially giving organisers more time to prepare and develop commercial partnerships.
However, fewer tournaments could also mean fewer opportunities to generate revenue from the competition itself.
A report published by The Guardian in August 2026 said CAF abandoned a commercial process involving a deal valued at more than $1 billion after deciding to move AFCON to a four-year cycle. The change prompted the organisation to pursue a new bidding process for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 tournaments.
The financial debate illustrates why the scheduling decision matters beyond football administration.
CAF must consider how the competition can generate sustainable revenue while ensuring that national associations, players and supporters continue to benefit.
A return to the biennial format could increase the number of AFCON editions over a given period, but it would also require the governing body to assess the impact on scheduling, sponsorship and the wider international calendar.
What Happens Next?
The immediate question is whether CAF’s executive committee will formally reconsider the four-year plan and, if so, what alternatives it might propose.
For now, the reported discussions do not amount to a final decision. The existing schedule and any subsequent changes must be clarified through official announcements from CAF.
The 2027 AFCON is scheduled to take place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027, according to CAF’s published calendar.
The next edition and the long-term tournament cycle will depend on the governing body’s decisions and any official updates to its plans.
If CAF reverses the four-year arrangement, it would need to explain how the change would affect the African Nations League, future host selections and the international football calendar.
If the current plan remains in place, the organisation will still face the challenge of convincing supporters and other stakeholders that the revised format will strengthen African football.
Either way, the debate highlights the difficulty of balancing tradition, commercial interests and the increasingly congested global football schedule.
For African football fans, the key issue is whether CAF can settle on a format that protects AFCON’s identity while ensuring the competition remains financially sustainable and internationally competitive.
