The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has scrapped its proposed four-year AFCON cycle, opting to retain the competition’s traditional biennial format.

The decision was unanimously approved by the CAF Executive Committee, with President Patrice Motsepe announcing the reversal after the organisation’s Strategy Conference in Cabo Verde.

CAF had earlier considered holding the Africa Cup of Nations every four years and introducing an Africa Nations League to fill the gap. However, the governing body concluded that the proposed alternative would take several years to generate the financial and developmental benefits needed to strengthen African football.

Motsepe said the reversal was necessary to protect the interests of the continent’s 54 member associations and African players plying their trade outside Africa.

Under the revised calendar, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will jointly host the 2027 AFCON. Subsequent editions are scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033.

Motsepe expressed confidence in the three East African countries’ ability to deliver a successful tournament, adding that AFCON remained an important platform for showcasing African football and celebrating the continent’s diverse cultures.

He also explained that the new schedule was designed to avoid clashes with the FIFA World Cup, particularly the 2030 edition.

The decision reverses CAF’s earlier plan to abandon the biennial AFCON format and reaffirms the competition’s status as the continent’s flagship national team tournament.