Algeria withdraws from bidding for Africa Cup of Nations hosting rights

Algeria will not bid to host any of the next three editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033, according to reports in the Algerian media.

The decision, reported by Algerian newspaper Echorouk News and highlighted by Africafoot, means Algeria has closed the possibility of staging the tournament during the next seven years.

The development comes as the contest to host future editions begins to take shape, following a change by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to its plans for the competition.

Libya and Ethiopia in contention for 2028

Libya and Ethiopia are currently competing to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations, which could take place between 7 June and 19 July that year.

Egypt has expressed an interest in staging the tournament, while a joint bid from South Africa, Lesotho and Zimbabwe has also been discussed. However, neither option has yet become an official candidacy.

For the 2031 edition, which was brought forward by one year after the latest changes to the competition calendar, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have declared their desire to host. Senegal could also enter the race at a later stage.

No bid has been announced so far for the 2033 tournament.

CAF changes its four-year plan

CAF president Patrice Motsepe announced in December 2025 that the Africa Cup of Nations was expected to move to a four-year cycle.

In July, the organisation opened the bidding process for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions. CAF subsequently reversed that decision and announced on 30 October that the tournament would return to being held every two years.

As a result, the three editions after the 2027 tournament are now scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033.

Uncertainty over 2027 tournament

There are continuing doubts over whether Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will be ready to stage the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations next summer, with preparation work reportedly behind schedule less than a year before the competition begins.

If the tournament is removed from the three host countries, the hosting arrangements for later editions could be reconsidered. Egypt or South Africa could then return to the calculations, particularly amid reports that CAF has contacted both countries about the possibility of taking over the event.

Motsepe has nevertheless continued to deny officially that CAF intends to move the 2027 tournament away from its current hosts.

Algeria previously entered the bidding contests for the 2025 and 2027 editions, but withdrew just two days before the winning hosts were announced.

The country was also reported to have been among those contacted about hosting the 2027 tournament, alongside Morocco, which staged the most recent edition between December 2025 and January 2026, and Ivory Coast, host of the previous tournament in January and February 2024.