Motsepe under pressure as AFCON set for two-year return
The Africa Cup of Nations is heading back to every two years, and CAF president Patrice Motsepe is under pressure.
Motsepe signalled the U-turn at a CAF strategic conference in Cape Verde in the week leading up to 13 October 2026. A return to a biennial cycle, meaning a tournament every two years, is now expected to be confirmed at the executive committee meeting in Abidjan in November 2026. The Guardian
That plan lasted ten months. In December 2025, CAF had announced a shift to staging AFCON every four years after the 2027 edition in East Africa and a 2028 edition. BBC Sport Motsepe himself had said that, from 2028, the tournament would move to a four-year rhythm.
For casual fans, the context is simple. AFCON is Africa’s main men’s national-team championship, the equivalent of the Euros. It has long been played every two years. The attempt to stretch it to four brought pushback from officials, clubs and supporters who value its regular place in the calendar.
The next edition is already fixed. The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations is the first to be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and is provisionally scheduled for 19 June to 17 July. Reuters
The mood has shifted. Officials from across Africa have warned they have lost trust in Motsepe, who leads the Confederation of African Football, the body that runs the game on the continent. Motsepe has confirmed he does not intend to stand for a third term when his term expires in 2029.
The race to succeed him is already taking shape. Samuel Eto’o, president of Cameroon’s football federation and a member of CAF’s executive committee, is positioning as a potential candidate. Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania, Yacine Idriss Diallo of Côte d’Ivoire and Souleiman Waberi of Djibouti, a FIFA council member, are also in the frame.
Money is part of the story. Motsepe promised annual distributions of about $700,000 from CAF to each of its 54 member associations, an increase of $500,000. Payments to executive committee members for attending meetings rose from $150 to $350, with an annual bonus of about $8,000 introduced. He also pledged Africa’s unconditional support for Gianni Infantino’s re-election as FIFA president, on behalf of all 54 associations.
CAF’s broadcast deal with IMG is due to expire after the 2027 tournament. Bids for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions have been opened, which adds urgency to a decision on how often the competition will be played.
For fans, this means more of what makes AFCON special. A packed stadium in Abidjan. A late winner that empties a bench. A whole city staying up to watch. A two-year cycle keeps those nights coming round quickly, and that regularity is why this U-turn matters beyond boardrooms.
