Rabat, Morocco, December 21, 2025 – In a groundbreaking announcement on the eve of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Dr. Patrice Motsepe revealed that the continent’s premier tournament will transition to a four-year cycle starting after a special 2028 edition, aligning it more closely with the global football calendar.
The decision, approved by CAF’s Executive Committee, means the ongoing biennial format—established since 1968—will continue through the 2027 AFCON, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. This will be followed by an additional edition in 2028, with the host nation yet to be determined through an upcoming bidding process. Subsequent tournaments will then occur every four years, beginning in 2032.
Motsepe emphasized the need for better synchronization with international fixtures, stating, “We have the most exciting new structure for African football. The global calendar has to be significantly more synchronised and harmonised.” The move addresses longstanding scheduling conflicts, particularly with European club seasons and FIFA events like the expanded Club World Cup.
To maintain annual high-level competition and secure revenue—previously heavily reliant on AFCON, which accounts for about 80% of CAF’s income—a new African Nations League will launch in 2029. Modeled after UEFA’s Nations League, it will involve all 54 member associations divided into geographical zones, with matches in September and October, culminating in finals in November. Motsepe described it as “the equivalent of an AFCON every year,” ensuring top African players compete on the continent regularly.
The announcement, made alongside FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström, follows years of challenges in scheduling recent AFCON editions. The current 2025 tournament in Morocco, kicking off today with hosts facing Comoros, runs from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026—the first over the Christmas period due to prior clashes.
Additionally, CAF raised the winners’ prize money for the 2025 AFCON from $7 million to $10 million, underscoring efforts to elevate the tournament’s prestige amid these structural changes.
As the 2025 finals begin, this reform signals a new era for African football, balancing tradition with modern global demands.
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Historic Overhaul: AFCON Switches to Four-Year Cycle After 2028 Edition, New Annual Nations League Launched
