CAF president Patrice Motsepe has explained the governing body’s decision to revert to hosting the Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] every two years, abandoning plans for a four-year cycle.
In December 2025, Motsepe announced that the executive committee had taken a decision to host the tournament on a four-year cycle. At the time, Motsepe also announced that CAF would introduce a new African Nations League, which will take place every year.
The decision divided the continent’s football fraternity, with some accusing Motsepe and CAF of embracing UEFA influence in African football.
Earlier this month, Motsepe announced that the CAF EXCO would reassess and reconsider the decision taken last year.
CAF EXPLAINS DECISION TO REVERSE THE PLANNED AFCON FOUR-YEAR CYCLE PLAN
In an official statement issued by CAF on Thursday evening, CAF president Motsepe said the reconsideration was necessitated by, amongst other matters, the recognition that the proposed new Africa Nations League, which was supposed to replace the current AFCON, would require several years in order to be in a position to contribute the substantial financial resources necessary.
“The decision by the CAF EXCO that the CAF AFCON should take place every two years was based on advancing, protecting and promoting the interest of African Football and CAF’s 54 Member Associations, as well as the interest of African players employed by Football Clubs outside Africa,” said Motsepe.
“We were also concerned by the several years required before the proposed new Africa Nations League Pan-African competition, [which was supposed to be identical to the current AFCON and take place every two years], could make the substantial financial and football development contributions for African Football and CAF competitions to be globally competitive and self-supporting.
“The next TotalEnergies CAF AFCON will take place in 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and I am confident that it will be very successful. The subsequent AFCONs thereafter will take place in 2028, 2031 and 2033,” he added.
PATRICE MOTSEPE SAYS THE KEY DECISION WAS TAKEN WITH THE 54 CAF MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS IN MIND
Motsepe added that the decision is in the best interest of CAF’s 54 Member Associations and will also contribute significantly to the growth of football in Africa.
“The forthcoming FIFA World Cup will take place in 2030, and in accordance with the FIFA tradition, the final tournament of the AFCON and other Confederations National Teams competitions may not take place during the year of the FIFA World Cup,” he declared.
“The AFCON competition is also about celebrating African Football and Africa’s rich and diverse cultures, customs and traditions and bringing people together from Africa’s 54 Countries, the African Diaspora and throughout the world. The CAF EXCO decision is in the best interest of African Football and CAF’s 54 Member Associations and will also contribute significantly to the development and growth of football in Africa.”
RELATED STORY: R164m for Nations League: Five major takeaways from Motsepe’s AFCON final presser
