AFCON Timeline: From Sporadic Beginnings to Regular Biennial Rhythm

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Sun, Dec 12st, 2025 by Sporting News

How Often Is the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Played?

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has a long and somewhat convoluted history when it comes to its scheduling. The current consensus is that the tournament is played every two years—every odd year—although this was not always the case. The article on Sporting News tracks that evolution, noting key changes and the reasons behind them. Below is a concise summary of the main points, including additional context gleaned from the links embedded in the original piece.

1. The Early Years: A Non‑Uniform Schedule (1957‑1965)

• 1957 – The inaugural AFCON was held in Sudan.
• 1959 – The second edition took place in Ethiopia, a two‑year gap.
• 1962 – The third tournament was delayed for three years, held in Cameroon.
• 1963 – A year later, the competition returned to Ivory Coast.
• 1965 – The fourth event was hosted by Senegal, again a two‑year interval.

Because of logistical constraints and political instability in various African nations, the early AFCONs did not settle into a strict rhythm. The tournament was described as “sporadic” during this period.

2. The Biennial Era (1965‑2010)

Starting with the 1965 edition, CAF settled on a biennial (every‑two‑years) format. The tournament alternated between even and odd years for several decades, with most competitions taking place in even‑numbered years (e.g., 1972, 1974, 1976). This schedule remained stable until 2010, the year the tournament was hosted in Angola.

The CAF 2010 decision to hold the next AFCON in 2012 was in keeping with this two‑year cadence. However, the organization announced a major change two years later.

3. The 2013 “Pivot”: From Even to Odd Years

CAF’s 2013 announcement—linking to a CAF communiqué—outlined a shift to odd‑numbered years. The stated goal was to give African teams more breathing room after the FIFA World Cup, which takes place in even years, and to avoid calendar clashes with other international competitions.

• 2013 – The first odd‑year AFCON took place in South Africa.
• 2015 – Held in Equatorial Guinea, this edition was a transition year, maintaining the two‑year interval.
• 2017 – The tournament returned to its new odd‑year rhythm in Gabon.
• 2019 – Senegal hosted the competition, again every two years.

4. The COVID‑19 Disruption (2021 Edition)

The 2021 AFCON, slated for March in Ivory Coast, was postponed to 2022 due to the COVID‑19 pandemic. This one‑year delay broke the regular rhythm, but CAF reaffirmed its commitment to the odd‑year, biennial cycle. The next tournament is scheduled for 2023, and the pattern is expected to continue.

5. Why the Switch Matters

CAF’s decision to move to odd‑year tournaments was more than a scheduling tweak. It:

• Improved player availability: Club‑league calendars are less congested, reducing injuries and fatigue.
• Enhanced marketing: A distinct time slot allowed sponsors and broadcasters to focus solely on AFCON without competing for viewership.
• Aligned with global football calendars: With the World Cup and other continental tournaments set in even years, AFCON found its niche in the odd‑year window.

6. Key Takeaways

CAF’s most recent communiqué (link to CAF website) confirms that the Africa Cup of Nations will continue on this odd‑year, biennial schedule. As such, fans and national teams can plan ahead knowing that the next tournament will be in 2025.

Bottom Line

AFCON’s history reflects the growing pains of a continent‑wide competition seeking to balance tradition, logistics, and the demands of the global football calendar. From its irregular early years to the current, stable odd‑year format, CAF’s scheduling decisions have aimed to maximize player welfare, commercial viability, and sporting integrity. The tournament now firmly sits on a two‑year cycle in odd years, with the next edition slated for 2025—ensuring that African football will continue to thrive on the world stage.