CAF reverts AFCON to two-year cycle, next edition 2027 in East Africa

CAF has unanimously voted to return the Africa Cup of Nations to a two-year cycle, reversing last year's decision to hold it every four years. The CAF executive committee made the call Thursday at a strategy conference in Cabo Verde, with President Patrice Motsepe confirming the Africa Nations League—proposed as AFCON's biennial replacement—needs several more years to become globally competitive and financially self-sustaining.

Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda will co-host the next AFCON in 2027, giving the Super Eagles a clear tournament target after missing the 2025 edition in Morocco. The two-year cycle means more frequent continental competition but also tighter scheduling for Nigerian players balancing club commitments in Europe with national team duty.

For Nigerian football, this restores the rhythm that produced AFCON wins in 1994, 2013 and consistent World Cup qualification campaigns. The Nations League delay means no new secondary tournament to fill the gap—just AFCON every two years starting 2027.

Will the restored biennial cycle help the Super Eagles rebuild tournament sharpness, or will the congested calendar burn out key players before crucial World Cup qualifiers?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/10/30/caf-reverts-afcon-to-two-year-cycle/