The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Africa’s flagship international football tournament, will shift from its long-established biennial schedule to a four-year cycle beginning after the 2028 edition, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed. The landmark decision was announced on Saturday by CAF president Patrice Motsepe on the eve of the 2025 AFCON kick-off in Morocco.
The change marks one of the most significant structural reforms in African football in decades, ending a tradition of staging the continental championship every two years since 1968, with only a brief exception between the 2012 and 2013 editions. Under the new plan, the tournament will adopt a quadrennial rhythm, mirroring other major global competitions such as the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship.
Motsepe explained that while the next AFCON finals—scheduled for 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda—will proceed as planned, and another edition is set for 2028, the shift to a four-year cycle will take effect after 2028. “Our focus now is on this AFCON, but in 2027 we will be going to Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, and the AFCON after that will be in 2028,” Motsepe said. “Then after the FIFA Club World Cup in 2029 we will have the first African Nations League…with more prize money, more resources and more competition. As part of this arrangement, the AFCON now will take place once every four years.”
The move comes amid longstanding pressure to harmonise Africa’s football calendar with global competitions and reduce clashes with domestic leagues, particularly in Europe, where many of the continent’s top players are based. Historically, the timing of AFCON has often forced clubs to release African stars mid-season, a point of friction increasingly cited by national associations, top clubs and FIFA officials.
CAF acknowledged that AFCON has traditionally been a major revenue driver for African football associations, accounting for an estimated 80 per cent of income. To offset the financial impact of fewer editions, the federation plans to launch an annual African Nations League beginning in 2029, modelled after UEFA’s Nations League format. The new competition is expected to enhance revenue streams and provide regular competitive fixtures for national teams outside the AFCON cycle.
In addition to the scheduling overhaul, CAF has boosted prize money for the current AFCON, with the winners set to receive $10 million—an increase from $7 million in the previous edition.
