CAF is transitioning AFCON to a four-year cycle starting in 2028 and introducing an annual African Nations League to better align with the global football calendar.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a landmark structural shift, transitioning the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to a quadrennial cycle starting from 2028.
President Patrice Motsepe confirmed that the traditional biennial format will conclude following the 2027 edition hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
This move aims to align the tournament with the global football calendar and reduce recurring friction with European clubs over the release of key African players.
Explaining the motivation behind the historic change, Motsepe emphasized the need for a more sustainable international schedule.
“The Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) will be held every four years from 2028,” Motsepe told reporters in Rabat.
He added, “We have the most exciting new structure for African football. I do what is in the interests of Africa. The global calendar has to be significantly more synchronised and harmonised.”
To maintain competitive momentum during the four-year gaps, CAF will introduce the African Nations League, an annual competition set to debut in 2029.
This new tournament is designed to provide national teams with consistent, high-level match experience while easing the physical burden on athletes.
Additionally, the federation has boosted the financial stakes for the primary trophy, increasing the AFCON winners’ prize money from $7 million to a substantial $10 million.
The shift marks the end of a long-standing era for the competition, which has operated on a two-year basis since 1968.
While previous attempts to move the tournament to the summer months were often thwarted by weather and the pandemic, officials believe the four-year cycle offers better planning stability.
By adopting this model, CAF hopes to elevate the tournament’s prestige and commercial appeal to match other major global continental championships.