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AFCON to Switch to Four-Year Cycle Starting 2028, CAF Confirms
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.
Also read: Nigeria and Tunisia Set to Dominate AFCON 2025 Group C
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.”
Also read: Super Eagles Coach Chelle Omits Key Strikers from AFCON
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.
In a decisive move aimed at alleviating the economic burdens of retired public servants, Zamfara State Governor, Dr Dauda Lawal, has officially approved increased monthly pension payments for all former workers from both state and local government offices. The approval follows an extensive financial review of retirees’ living conditions, with particular attention to those in lower-income brackets who have been disproportionately affected by the prevailing cost-of-living crisis.
The decision was precipitated by the findings and recommendations of a special committee empaneled to evaluate the welfare situation of pensioners across the state. The committee’s report highlighted acute financial distress among aging retirees and called for immediate remedial action. In response, the state government has authorized a substantive upward adjustment in monthly pension stipends.
This increment aligns seamlessly with the Federal Government’s Minimum Wage Act of 2024, which explicitly recommended an additional monthly sum of at least N32,000 for pensioners. Governor Lawal has opted for full implementation of this advisory for all retired state and local government employees a policy intervention expected to benefit thousands of households across Zamfara. The state government has subsequently issued binding directives to all relevant agencies to ensure the expeditious and seamless disbursement of the enhanced payments without procedural delays.
Speaking on the development, the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mahmud Muhammad Dantawasa, characterized the policy as a tangible demonstration of Governor Lawal’s unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life for both active and former government workers. According to the Commissioner, the administration operates on the principle that dignified retirement includes access to basic necessities and financial comfort. Beneficiaries across all local government areas have been assured of prompt payment once implementation commences.
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