Sports Reporter | 5484 Media | NAIROBI, KENYA
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- AFCON to be played every four years from 2028.
- African Nations League to launch in 2029.
African football is set for a major structural shake-up after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will move from a biennial to a four-year cycle starting in 2028.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe made the announcement following an executive committee meeting in Morocco, on the eve of the 2025 AFCON finals in Rabat, describing the changes as part of a bold new vision for the continent’s game.
Why CAF Changed the AFCON Cycle
AFCON has been staged every two years since 1968, but its scheduling has long clashed with the global football calendar. Most editions have taken place in the middle of the European club season, regularly triggering tension between clubs and national teams.
CAF had attempted to address this by moving AFCON to a June–July window from 2019. However, unforeseen challenges derailed the plan.
The Covid-19 pandemic, extreme weather conditions in parts of Central and West Africa, and FIFA’s expanded 32-team Club World Cup forced CAF to repeatedly revert to January–February dates.
This year’s tournament in Morocco will even run over Christmas and New Year for the first time, with the final set for 18 January.
According to Motsepe, such disruptions made change unavoidable.
“The global calendar has to be significantly more synchronised and harmonised,” he said. “We have to compromise.”
The decision was reached in consultation with FIFA president Gianni Infantino and FIFA general secretary Mattias Grafstrom.
What the Changes Mean
From 2028, AFCON will be held every four years, aligning it with major international tournaments like the European Championships.
Before that, East Africa will host the 2027 edition in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, followed swiftly by another AFCON in 2028, with hosts yet to be named.
To offset the reduced frequency of AFCON, CAF will introduce an African Nations League from 2029. The annual competition will feature all 54 CAF member associations split into four zones.
Regional matches will be played in September and October, with zone champions meeting in November to crown an overall winner.
Motsepe described the new tournament as “the equivalent of an AFCON every year,” designed to guarantee regular high-profile international football on the continent.
Financial and Sporting Implications
CAF has also increased the AFCON winner’s prize money from $7 million to $10 million, underlining its push to enhance the tournament’s commercial value and competitiveness.
The Nations League is expected to attract major sponsors, supported by FIFA, while ensuring that Europe-based African stars return home annually for competitive matches.
“Every year in Africa, the best African players who play in Europe will be with us on the continent,” Motsepe said. “We are going to have a world-class competition every year.”
Reactions and Outlook
The move is likely to be welcomed by European clubs frustrated by frequent mid-season player absences, while national teams and fans gain a more structured and predictable calendar.
However, the shift also marks the end of an era for a tournament that has been a constant presence in African football life every two years for nearly six decades.
As Africa prepares for AFCON 2025 in Morocco and a historic East African hosting in 2027, the continent now looks ahead to a new chapter—one built around fewer AFCON tournaments, higher stakes, and an annual Nations League promising regular continental drama.
