CAF considers returning Africa Cup of Nations to biennial format, reversing earlier decision

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) could abandon its plan to move the Africa Cup of Nations to a four-year frequency, barely months after officially announcing it. On Friday, in Cape Verde, the confederation’s president Patrice Motsepe himself opened the door to a reversal: “We are looking at holding the CAN every two years. It is under study.”

The initial decision was made in December, on the sidelines of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations hosted in Morocco. The stated objective was to align the continental tournament’s calendar with that of the Euros, in line with FIFA requirements. Under this plan, the 2027 edition — scheduled for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda — was to be followed by a CAN in 2028. The 2028 edition has not yet been officially awarded.

This reversal comes amid tensions between FIFA and UEFA. According to independent journalist Romain Molina, the African leaders’ about-face would be directly linked to pressure exerted in the context of this institutional conflict: “Because of the FIFA/UEFA war and also because the CAF desperately needs money — a CAN every four years was economic suicide.” Molina took the opportunity to criticize the confederation’s governance: “CAF’s governance is a big joke, especially its president.”

The CAN has indeed been held every two years since its creation in 1957. This schedule has historically supported the development of sports infrastructure across the continent, and the announcement of the move to four years had sparked widespread outcry when it was revealed on December 20.

The CAF executive committee is now working on this new project. Patrice Motsepe also mentioned, in parallel, the creation of an African Nations League modeled on the UEFA competition, with an edition every two years. The question of the date and location of the 2028 edition remains unresolved.