RABAT, Morocco — In a landmark move that signals a total overhaul of the continental football calendar, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will transition to a four-year cycle starting in 2028.
The announcement was made by CAF President Patrice Motsepe following a pivotal executive committee meeting in Morocco, just ahead of the 2025 finals in Rabat.
This decision ends a nearly 60-year tradition of biennial hosting that dates back to 1968.
A synchronized global calendar
The shift to a quadrennial format is designed to resolve long-standing friction between African international football and the European club season.
In recent years, the tournament has faced significant scheduling hurdles due to the COVID-19 pandemic, weather conditions, and the expansion of the FIFA Club World Cup.
Explaining the vision behind the restructure, President Motsepe emphasized the need for global harmony in football scheduling:
“We have the most exciting new structure for African football,” Motsepe said. “I do what is in the interests of Africa. The global calendar has to be significantly more synchronised and harmonised.”
Despite the change in frequency, CAF has significantly boosted the tournament’s prestige by increasing the winner’s prize money from $7 million (£5.2m) to $10 million (£7.5m).
The transition timeline
The road to the new format will include a final burst of frequent activity before settling into the four-year rhythm:
- 2025: Current edition in Morocco (taking place over December/January).
- 2027: To be hosted across East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda).
- 2028: A final biennial edition (Host TBD).
- Post-2028: AFCON will align with the European Championship years, occurring every four years.
Introducing the African Nations League (2029)
To fill the gap between AFCON tournaments and maintain high-level competition, Motsepe unveiled the African Nations League.
Set to launch in 2029, this annual competition aims to bring Africa’s elite talent back to the continent every year.
Tournament structure:
The league will feature all 54 member associations divided into geographic zones:
- Northern Zone: 6 nations.
- Eastern, Western, Central, and Southern Zones: 16 nations each.
- Schedule: Matches played in September and October, with a “Grand Final” in November to crown an overall champion.
Motsepe described the new league as “the equivalent of an AFCON every year,” noting its potential to attract premier global sponsors through a partnership with FIFA.
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“Every year in Africa, the best African players who play in Europe will be with us on the continent,” Motsepe added. “Every year we will have a competition with 54 African nations with all the best players coming here to play. We are going to have a world-class competition every year.”
Summary of changes
| Feature | Old Format | New Format (Post-2028) |
| AFCON Frequency | Every 2 Years | Every 4 Years |
| Winner’s Prize | $7 Million | $10 Million |
| New Competition | None | African Nations League (Annual) |
| Calendar alignment | Often mid-European season | Synchronized with FIFA/Europe |
