Motsepe Hints At AFCON U-Turn As CAF Reviews Biennial Format
Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe has revealed that the continental governing body is considering a return to hosting the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every two years following widespread opposition to plans to move the tournament to a four-year cycle.
Motsepe made the disclosure on Friday at a CAF strategy conference in Cape Verde, where his comments reportedly drew enthusiastic applause from delegates.
“We have discussed things over the last few days and are looking at everything, including having the AFCON come back every two years,” he said.
The development signals a possible rethink of CAF’s earlier plan to restructure the schedule of Africa’s flagship football competition.
In December 2025, CAF outlined plans to move AFCON to a four-year cycle as part of a broader strategy to accommodate a proposed annual African Nations League.
Under the proposed arrangement, the tournament was expected to hold in 2027 and 2028 before the next edition in 2032.
However, the plan attracted criticism from football stakeholders and fans who feared that reducing the frequency of AFCON would undermine its cultural significance, limit Africa’s visibility in international football and affect revenue generated by the competition.
The tournament, traditionally staged every two years, remains one of the continent’s biggest sporting events, attracting millions of viewers and providing a major platform for African national teams and players.
Motsepe’s latest comments suggest that CAF is reassessing its options in response to concerns over the proposed changes.
However, no final decision on the competition’s future schedule was announced, leaving the biennial format under review as discussions continue.
