This decision reverts the tournament to its old hosting period as opposed to the 2019 edition which took place in June and July in Egypt.
Cameroon, who will host the tournament, have cited meteorological challenges as its decision to switch to the start of the year.
"It (2021 Africa Cup of Nations) will be played in Cameroon from January 9 to February 6, 2021. Date changed for weather reasons at Cameroon's request," Fecafoot posted online.
Cameroon were initially chosen to host AFCON 2019 but infrastructure challenges saw them stripped off the hosting rights with Egypt taking their place for the revamped tournament.
"We have reviewed the period of the competition as requested by the Cameroonian party due to unfavourable climatic conditions during the period initially slated," Caf's deputy general secretary Tony Baffoe read from a statement.
"After listening to the various arguments and viewpoints, and in particular from the Cameroonian meteorological authorities, the coaches and players; the representatives of the Afcon organising committee, which received the mandate from Caf Executive Committee to take the decision, has granted this request.
"A detailed reported shall be presented to the members of the Executive Committee during its next session on 6 February."
The switch of dates will likely bring back the club versus country dilemma European-based players normally face at the start of the year as they usually have to choose between staying with their clubs or flying down to represent their countries in the middle of the season.
