Rabat – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reportedly consulted its 54 member associations over a possible return to organizing the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every two years, raising new questions about the future of Africa’s biggest football competition.
CAF has reportedly sent a letter to its member federations requesting their opinions on the tournament’s frequency.
According to the African Football Journalist, Part of the letter CAF sent to the Member Associations says:
• “If AFCON moves from every two years to every four years, CAF would need another competition to help generate revenue.
• CAF had proposed the Africa Nations League Pan African, a competition that would be similar to the current AFCON and played every two years.
• However, CAF says this new competition could take several years before it starts generating significant money for CAF and its 54 Member Associations.”
The federations have until Wednesday, October 28, to communicate their positions on whether AFCON should continue with the proposed four-year cycle or return to its traditional two-year format.
The consultation comes amid reports that CAF’s Executive Committee is considering reversing its earlier plans to organize the competition every four years.
CAF Reconsiders AFCON’s Future
The debate over AFCON’s schedule has continued for months, particularly following previous announcements by CAF President Patrice Motsepe.
In December 2025, shortly before the opening of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Motsepe announced plans to change the competition’s frequency from every two years to every four years.
Under the proposed calendar, the tournament would follow a four-year cycle beginning in 2028, with subsequent editions scheduled for 2032 and 2036.
However, the CAF president later reconsidered the decision, leaving uncertainty over the competition’s long-term schedule.
The latest consultation suggests that African football’s governing body is seeking feedback from its member associations before determining the tournament’s future.
Two years or four years?
The Africa Cup of Nations has traditionally taken place every two years, making it one of the most frequently organized major international football tournaments.
The format has allowed African national teams to compete regularly for the continental title while providing players with opportunities to represent their countries on the international stage.
However, the tournament’s frequency has also raised questions about its place in the international football calendar, particularly when it overlaps with domestic club competitions.
A four-year format would bring AFCON closer to the scheduling model used by other major international competitions, including the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship.
On the other hand, maintaining the traditional two-year cycle would preserve the tournament’s established format and provide African nations with more frequent opportunities to compete for continental honors.
What happens next?
CAF’s 54 member associations now have until October 28 to submit their positions on the proposed scheduling options.
Their responses could influence discussions within CAF’s Executive Committee and help determine whether the competition returns to its traditional format.
For now, CAF has not announced a final decision on the tournament’s future frequency.
The coming days could therefore prove important for the future of African football, with the continent’s governing body facing a decision that could reshape the Africa Cup of Nations calendar for years to come.
