The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reversed its decision and will return to holding the Africa Cup of Nations every two years.

CAF confirmed the decision on Thursday, less than a year after announcing plans to reduce the frequency of Africa’s biggest international football tournament.

The governing body’s executive committee abandoned the four-year proposal after concluding that its planned Africa Nations League would take several years to generate sufficient revenue.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe said the decision would “protect African football’s financial interests, its 54 member associations and players competing for clubs outside the continent.”

The next AFCON will take place in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda in 2027, followed by editions in 2028, 2031 and 2033. CAF originally announced the four-year plan in December 2025, ahead of the tournament hosted by Morocco.

Under that proposal, the competition would have moved to a four-year cycle after the 2028 edition.

CAF also planned to introduce an ‘Africa Nations League’ from 2029, giving national teams another major continental competition between AFCON tournaments.

However, Motsepe acknowledged that the proposed competition “could not immediately replace AFCON’s financial contribution.”

Motsepe had already signalled a possible reversal during CAF’s strategy conference in Cabo Verde from October 7 to 9. However, CAF did not clarify whether the proposed Nations League will proceed under a revised format or timetable.

But despite restoring the biennial format, CAF’s next four editions will not follow a regular two-year schedule. The 2027 tournament will run from June 19 to July 17 across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Another AFCON will follow in 2028, creating consecutive editions before a three-year gap to 2031. The competition will then return in 2033.

Motsepe explained that CAF would avoid staging the tournament in 2030 because of the FIFA World Cup.

The change also raises questions about CAF’s existing hosting arrangements. In July, the governing body opened bidding for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 tournaments.

CAF has yet to explain how Thursday’s decision will affect those bidding processes.