CAF reviews plan to stage Africa Cup of Nations every four years

WHAT HAPPENED
CAF president Patrice Motsepe said the confederation is reviewing its December decision to stage the Africa Cup of Nations every four years and that discussions have included a possible return to a two-year cycle. Speaking on Friday at a CAF strategy conference in Cape Verde, Motsepe said: "We are looking at everything, including having the Afcon coming back every two years. We are very clear, the matter is being reviewed."

KEY CONTEXT
The Africa Cup of Nations has been held every two years since 1968, with the sole recent exception of the one-year gap between the 2012 and 2013 editions. In December 2025 CAF announced plans to change the tournament to a four-year cycle after the 2027 Afcon in East Africa and a separate 2028 edition. That proposed shift drew widespread criticism from across the continent.

WHY IT MATTERS
National associations had expressed concerns about the announced change, citing the visibility of their teams, commercial implications and where the competition would sit in the international football calendar. Motsepe’s confirmation that the decision is under review responds directly to those objections.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Motsepe said discussions had taken place "over the last few days" and that the matter is under review. No final decision was announced at the conference.

ADDITIONAL NOTE
Separately, Senegal are waiting to hear the result of an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after being stripped of the Afcon title they thought they had won in January.