Motsepe defends two-year AFCON cycle, explains decision to shift to 2031 and 2033 editions

Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Dr Patrice Motsepe has defended the decision to maintain the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on a two-year cycle, while explaining the reasons for the revised competition calendar beyond 2028.

Under the new schedule, the tournament will continue to be held every two years until the 2028 edition, before moving to a three-year cycle, with subsequent tournaments scheduled for 2031 and 2033.

Motsepe said the decision by the CAF Executive Committee (EXCO) was taken to protect the interests of African football, the continent's 54 member associations and African players employed by clubs outside the continent.

He also cited concerns about the time required for a proposed Africa Nations League to deliver significant financial and football development benefits to the game.

“The decision by the CAF EXCO that the CAF AFCON should take place every Two Years was based on advancing, protecting and promoting the interest of African Football and CAF’s 54 Member Associations, as well as the interest of African players employed by Football Clubs outside Africa," he said as quoted by Cafonline.

"We were also concerned by the several years required before the proposed new Africa Nations League Pan-African competition, (which was supposed to be identical to the current AFCON and take place Every Two Years), could make the substantial financial and football development contributions for African Football and CAF competitions to be globally competitive and self-supporting.”

The next AFCON will take place in 2027, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda jointly hosting the tournament.

Motsepe expressed confidence in the three countries' ability to stage a successful competition, while pointing to the 2030 FIFA World Cup as a factor in the scheduling of subsequent AFCON tournaments.

“The next TotalEnergies CAF AFCON will take place in 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and I am confident that it will be very successful. The subsequent AFCONs thereafter will take place in 2028, 2031 and 2033. The forthcoming FIFA World Cup will take place in 2030 and in accordance with the FIFA tradition, the final tournament of the AFCON and other Confederations National Teams competitions may not take place during the year of the FIFA World Cup.”

The CAF president also emphasised the tournament's cultural significance, describing it as an opportunity to celebrate Africa's diversity and unite people across the continent and beyond.

“The AFCON competition is also about celebrating African Football and Africa’s rich and diverse cultures, customs and traditions and bringing people together from Africa’s 54 Countries, the African Diaspora and throughout the world.”

Motsepe maintained that the decision would contribute to the growth and development of football across Africa.

“The CAF EXCO decision is in the best interest of African Football and CAF’s 54 Member Associations and will also contribute significantly to the development and growth of football in Africa.”