The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is considering reversing its plan to hold the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years, with president Patrice Motsepe confirming that a return to the biennial format is under review.
Motsepe made this known on Friday at a CAF strategy meeting in Cape Verde, raising fresh uncertainty over the long-term scheduling of Africa's biggest football competition.
“We are studying the possibility of returning to holding the Africa Cup of Nations every two years. This matter is currently under study,” Motsepe said.
The review comes less than a year after CAF announced in December 2025 that AFCON would move to a four-year cycle after the 2028 tournament.
The decision was part of a broader plan to reorganise African football competitions and reduce pressure on the international football calendar. CAF had also announced plans to introduce an African Nations League in 2029.
The proposed four-year interval was intended to bring AFCON closer to the scheduling pattern of major international competitions, including the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship.
Supporters of the change argued that a longer interval between tournaments would ease fixture congestion and reduce disagreements between national teams and European clubs over the release of players for international duty.
However, the proposal also attracted criticism from those concerned about its potential impact on African football's finances and the development of players.
AFCON is one of CAF's most important sources of income, accounting for up to 80 per cent of its total commercial revenue. Proceeds from the competition help fund football development initiatives across the confederation's 54 member associations.
Critics of the four-year cycle warned that staging the tournament less frequently could reduce revenue opportunities for national associations and limit the exposure available to players competing in domestic African leagues.
The debate has been complicated by the expansion of the international football calendar, which has forced organisers to adjust tournament dates to accommodate other competitions.
The 2025 AFCON in Morocco, for instance, was moved from its original mid-year schedule to December 2025 and January 2026 to avoid a clash with FIFA's expanded Club World Cup, held in mid-2025.
Attention has now shifted to the 2027 edition, which Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are scheduled to co-host between June and July.
CAF spokesperson Luxolo September recently said preparations for the tournament remained on schedule.
Motsepe's latest remarks indicate that the governing body is reassessing how frequently AFCON should be held, balancing the competition's financial significance with concerns about player welfare, club commitments and the growing demands of international football.
A final decision is expected after further consultations within CAF's executive committee.
For now, the possibility of returning to a two-year AFCON cycle remains under consideration, with the outcome likely to shape the organisation of African football in the years ahead.
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