Months after stunning the football world by announcing a shift toward a quadrennial schedule, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is reconsidering its roadmap.
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CAF President Patrice Motsepe has revealed that the organisation is actively studying a return to the traditional two-year cycle for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Speaking during a high-level strategy conference in Cape Verde, Motsepe addressed gathered member association presidents, national team coaches, and administrators, indicating that the tournament’s future frequency is once again under review.
“We discussed the matter in recent days, and we are studying all the options, including the return of the AFCON every two years,” Motsepe told the assembly.
Re-evaluating the 4-year shift
The potential reversal comes less than a year after CAF initially declared that the tournament would transition to a four-year cycle following the upcoming 2027 showpiece, which is set to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
The initial decision to move toward a quadrennial model was designed to harmonise African football with the global calendar, reduce fixture congestion, and minimise friction between European clubs and African national teams over player releases. However, the proposal triggered immediate pushback from various stakeholders across the continent.
Critics argued that lengthening the gap between tournaments could dampen commercial revenue generation, given that AFCON serves as the financial backbone for football development across CAF’s 54 member associations, while limiting international exposure for home-grown talent.
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🚨BREAKING🚨 “We are looking into bringing AFCON back to every two years. That’s under review” ~ @CAF_Online President Patrice Motsepe.
#SABCSport411 | @AFC_2025 | #CAFStrategyConference | @CAF_Online https://t.co/HCYCy6e6De
— Velile Mnyandu 🇿🇦 (@Velile_Mnyandu) October 9, 2026
Balancing global demands and African interests
Addressing delegates, Motsepe strongly rejected claims that external bodies like FIFA or UEFA had dictated CAF’s scheduling decisions. Emphasising his primary mandate, the CAF president maintained that safeguarding the continent’s football ecosystem remains paramount.
Prominent figures within the African game have voiced support for maintaining the biennial format. Franco-Malian tactician and national team coach Eric Chelle recently championed the two-year structure, noting that regular tournament exposure is vital for accelerating the development and competitiveness of African sides.
While no definitive final vote or formal executive resolution has been finalised, the ongoing review signals a major win for traditionalists who view the biennial tournament as an essential celebration of African culture and sporting excellence. CAF is expected to issue a comprehensive update following further executive committee consultations.
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