Africa Cup of Nations to Switch to Four-Year Cycle After 2028 — CAF

The Africa Cup of Nations will move to a four-year cycle after the 2028 edition, the Confederation of African Football has confirmed, ending the long-standing biennial format of the continent’s flagship tournament.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe announced the decision on Saturday, saying the change is part of a wider overhaul aimed at easing pressure on Africa’s international football calendar and improving alignment with global competitions.

The announcement was made in Rabat ahead of the opening fixture of the Morocco-hosted tournament, with Motsepe stressing that upcoming editions will proceed as scheduled before the new structure takes effect.

Calendar overhaul and new revenue model

According to Motsepe, the shift away from a two-year AFCON cycle will be balanced by the introduction of an African Nations League, a new annual competition expected to generate increased commercial returns for national football associations.

“Our focus is on this AFCON, then in 2027 we will be in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, followed by the 2028 edition,” Motsepe said. “After the FIFA Club World Cup in 2029, the African Nations League will begin, offering more prize money, more resources and more competitive matches.”

He acknowledged that hosting AFCON every two years had been a major source of income for many associations but said the new competition would provide a more sustainable financial model while reducing scheduling conflicts.

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The Africa Cup of Nations has been held mostly at two-year intervals since its first edition in 1957, but clashes with European club football have intensified over the past decade, leading to repeated calls for reform.

CAF believes the new four-year cycle will improve planning, protect player welfare and strengthen the overall quality of international football on the continent, while maintaining AFCON’s prestige.