AFCON Returns to a Two-Year Cycle: CAF’s Rationale and Criticism of Its Reform

The CAF executive committee unanimously decided on October 29, 2026, to restore the Africa Cup of Nations to a two-year cycle, abandoning less than a year after its announcement the four-year format planned from 2028. Patrice Motsepe justified the reversal by citing the interests of African federations and players, as well as the revenue AFCON can generate before the proposed Nations League delivers sufficient returns. The next tournament will take place in 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, followed by editions in 2028, 2031 and 2033, with a possible break in the 2030 World Cup year. The original reform drew criticism from former Cameroon goalkeeper Joseph Antoine Bell, who said it deprived Africans of their major football event, and Mali coach Tom Saintfiet, who argued it mainly benefited global football powers.