In a landmark decision that will reshape the continental football calendar, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the Africa Cup of Nations will be held every four years instead of every two, starting from 2028.
Historic Shift for Africa's Premier Tournament
The change marks a significant departure for the competition, which has been staged biennially since its inception in 1957. The tournament is a financial powerhouse for CAF, generating an estimated 80% of the confederation's total revenue. The announcement was made by CAF President Patrice Motsepe on the eve of the 35th edition, which kicks off in Morocco with the hosts facing Comoros.
Motsepe confirmed that the next finals, scheduled for 2027 and to be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, will proceed as planned. Another tournament will follow in 2028, after which the new four-year cycle will begin.
New African Nations League to Fill the Void
To compensate for the reduced frequency of its flagship event and secure annual revenue streams, CAF will launch an annual African Nations League from 2029. This move mirrors the structure in Europe, where the European Championship also operates on a four-year basis.
"Historically the Nations Cup was the prime resource for us but now we will get financial resources every year," Motsepe stated. He described the new model as "an exciting new structure which will contribute to sustainable financial independence and ensure more synchronisation with the Fifa calendar."
Ending a Long-Standing Controversy
The timing of the Afcon tournament has been a persistent point of contention in global football. It has frequently been held in the middle of the European club season, obliging teams to release key players and disrupting domestic leagues. A planned shift to a mid-year schedule from 2019 was not fully realised, with the 2022 edition in Cameroon and the 2024 tournament in Côte d'Ivoire both taking place in the early months of the year.
This year's event in Morocco was itself delayed by six months due to the scheduling of FIFA's revamped Club World Cup in the United States during June and July. The shift to a four-year cycle is seen as a direct response to FIFA President Gianni Infantino's previous proposals for the change, which CAF had initially resisted due to its heavy reliance on Afcon income.
The restructuring represents a major step towards harmonising the international football calendar and could reduce club-versus-country disputes, while establishing a new, regular competition in the African Nations League to maintain annual interest and commercial activity.
