CAF confirms AFCON will now occur every four years starting in 2028, alongside a new annual African Nations League to align with global football schedules

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will now be staged every four years, starting with the 2028 edition, African football president Patrice Motsepe announced on Saturday.

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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) chief described the move as part of a broader restructuring aimed at aligning African football with the congested international calendar.

Motsepe also revealed plans for an annual African Nations League, modeled on UEFA’s Nations League, to commence in 2029.

The league will feature regionalized competitions, with top teams advancing to a final tournament each November.

The initiative is expected to increase revenue for national football associations.

“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 in Rabat ahead of this year’s tournament in Morocco.

He confirmed that CAF would soon open the bidding process for nations interested in hosting the 2028 edition.

Since its inaugural tournament in 1957, AFCON has traditionally been held every two years.

However, CAF officials noted that the past 15 years have presented scheduling challenges, particularly with European club seasons and local climatic conditions.

Recent tournaments in Cameroon (2022) and Ivory Coast (2024) returned to the January-February window to bypass rainy seasons, while Morocco’s 2025 edition was moved to December due to FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup and European league schedules.

CAF also confirmed that the prize money for this year’s tournament in Morocco would increase to $10 million for the champions, up from $7 million in Ivory Coast in 2024.

“Our primary duty is to African football, but we also have a duty to the players from Africa playing for the best clubs in Europe,” Motsepe said.

“We want to ensure more synchronization and that the global calendar allows the best African players to represent their countries every year.”

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The Confederation hopes these changes will balance local competitions, international commitments, and European club obligations while providing a predictable and lucrative calendar for African nations.