The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is considering restoring the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to its traditional two-year schedule, months after announcing plans to stage the tournament every four years.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe disclosed the possibility on Friday during a press conference in Cape Verde, at the conclusion of the organisation’s Strategy Conference.
“We are looking at everything, including bringing the AFCON back to every two years,” Motsepe said.
In December 2025, CAF announced that AFCON would move to a four-year cycle after the 2028 edition, departing from its long-standing biennial format.
Under the original plan, the 2027 tournament, to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, would go ahead as scheduled, followed by another edition in 2028 before the new cycle took effect.
CAF also proposed launching an African Nations League in 2029, saying the competition would give the continent a major senior men’s national-team tournament in every year outside the FIFA World Cup cycle.
The planned change to AFCON’s frequency drew criticism across Africa. Motsepe defended the decision in January, rejecting suggestions that FIFA had pressured CAF to alter the tournament’s schedule.
His latest remarks suggest the governing body may be reconsidering the arrangement, although he did not announce a formal reversal or provide a timeline for a decision.
A return to the biennial format could also affect CAF’s wider competition plans. The organisation has opened bidding for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions, but has yet to explain how those processes or the proposed African Nations League would be affected if the schedule changes.
The discussions took place during a three-day strategy conference attended by presidents of CAF’s 54 member associations, Executive Committee members, national-team coaches and other football officials. The meeting focused on the future direction of African football through 2030.
