CAF president Patrice Motsepe announced in Doha that a decision on returning the AFCON to a two-year cycle would be taken soon, with Egypt and Algeria pushing for that format.
Asked in Doha, CAF president Patrice Motsepe indicated that a decision on returning the Africa Cup of Nations to a two-year cycle would be announced soon, according to Afroballers. He stressed that the body had received many contributions from its member associations, with strong support for abandoning the four-year model.
The 54 member associations had until Wednesday 28 October to submit their position: AFCON every two years or every four years, according to Footafrica.net. CAF’s executive committee was expected this Thursday 29 October to formalise the decision, according to Afroballers. Nothing is settled yet: CAF’s General Assembly is also scheduled in Abuja on 21 November.
Egypt and Algeria in the front line
According to Winwin’s sources, around 90% of member associations had sent letters recommending an AFCON every two years. The Egyptian Football Association sent an official letter supporting a return to the biennial cycle, citing the marketing and financial risks of the four-year format without an alternative competition, again according to Winwin.
The Algerian Federation, for its part, supports keeping the biennial format and is calling for the African Nations League project to be cancelled, the same outlet reports. Patrice Motsepe recalled that he had personally always favoured the two-year cycle, before promising, according to Afroballers: “We will take the right decision.”
A December 2025 reform called into question
A return to the biennial format would overturn the reform announced in December 2025, which provided for an AFCON every four years after 2028 and an African Nations League from 2029, according to Footafrica.net. In July, CAF had launched the bidding process for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions on the basis of that four-year project.
AFCON 2027, however, remains scheduled for Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, Footafrica.net recalls. The debate comes after a Moroccan edition with huge audiences: according to QNA, Patrice Motsepe said the AFCON in Morocco was followed by 3.5 billion people in 180 countries and generated 6.2 billion digital views.
The official also mentioned extensive discussions around the issue, telling QNA: “There has been a broad debate.”
Next stop Abuja
The executive committee’s decision was expected this Thursday 29 October 2026, according to Afroballers. CAF’s General Assembly will then be held in Abuja on 21 November.
In the meantime, supporters of the biennial format are pointing to the mobilisation of the federations: around 90% of member associations reportedly wrote in favour of it, according to Winwin’s sources.