URGENT: CAF reestablishes the CAN every two years (official)

The Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), in a press release, unanimously decided to reestablish the organization of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) every two years.

This decision marks a turnaround from the four-year cycle option considered last year by the governing body of African football.

The CAN thus finds its traditional rhythm. Meeting this Thursday, the CAF Executive Committee decided in favor of a biennial organization of the flagship competition of continental football. A decision announced after questions raised by the reform of the African competition calendar and the project to create a League of Nations.

During the CAF Strategic Conference, organized in Cape Verde from October 7 to 9, 2026, the president of the body, Dr Patrice Motsepe, announced that the Executive Committee would re-examine the decision to move the CAN to a four-year cycle.

This re-examination is explained in particular by the uncertainties surrounding the establishment of the new League of Nations. This pan-African competition, initially envisaged to replace the current CAN and to be played every two years, would have required several years before generating sufficient financial resources to support the development of African football.

In his explanation, Patrice Motsepe stressed that the reestablishment of the biennial rhythm responds to the need to preserve the interests of continental football. “The decision of the CAF Executive Committee to re-establish the organization of the CAN every two years aims to advance, protect and promote the interests of African football and the 54 Member Associations of CAF, as well as those of African players playing in clubs outside the continent,” he declared.

The South African leader also insisted on the financial issues linked to the League of Nations project. According to him, the time required for this new competition to produce significant economic benefits was a source of concern for CAF. “We were also concerned about the number of years required before the proposed new pan-African competition, the Nations League, designed to be identical to the current CAN and played every two years, could provide the substantial financial contributions and spin-offs necessary for the development of African football,” he explained.

The schedule for the next editions has now been specified. After the 2027 edition, which will take place jointly in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, the CAN will take place in 2028, then in 2031 and in 2033. A calendar which takes into account the 2030 World Cup. Patrice Motsepe has in fact indicated that, in accordance with FIFA tradition, the final phases of the continental competitions of national selections could not be organized during the year of the World Cup.

Beyond its sporting and economic issues, the CAF president recalled the cultural and unifying dimension of the competition. “The CAN is also a celebration of African football, the richness and diversity of the cultures, customs and traditions of our continent. It brings together the populations of the 54 countries of Africa, the African diaspora and the people of the whole world,” he underlined.

For Patrice Motsepe, this return to a two-year period therefore constitutes a strategic choice to consolidate African competitions and strengthen their international influence. He believes that this decision will also “contribute significantly to the development and growth of football in Africa”.

Sheikh Gora DIOP