CAF has confirmed it has reversed its decision to stage the Africa Cup of Nations every four years and will keep the competition on its traditional two-year calendar. The finals are planned for 2027 in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, followed by editions in 2028, 2031 and 2033.
Schedule set out by CAF
In a CAF statement, the confederation confirmed AFCON will continue to be played on a two-year cycle, with editions listed for 2027, 2028, 2031 and 2033. The statement said the next finals will be held in 2027 in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, with further tournaments scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033.
How 2027 qualifying will work
The qualification competition for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will take place from September 2026 to March 2027. The 48 teams have been drawn into 12 groups, with the top two in each advancing to the 24-team finals.
Hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda qualify automatically, but they are still playing in the qualifiers, so only one other team will advance from each of their groups.
Motsepe explains the decision
CAF president Patrice Motsepe said: "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."
He added: "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."
CAF statement on the reassessment
The CAF statement said: "This reassessment and reconsideration was necessitated by, amongst other matters, the recognition that the proposed new Africa Nations League Pan-African Competition which was supposed to replace the current AFCON and take place every two years, would require several years in order to be in a position, to contribute the substantial financial resources necessary, for the CAF Competitions and African Football to be globally competitive and self-supporting."
