The Confederation of African Football has announced a major overhaul of the continent’s football calendar, with the Africa Cup of Nations set to be held every four years from 2028.
CAF president, Patrice Motsepe, disclosed the decision after a meeting of the federation’s executive committee in Morocco, ahead of the start of the 2025 AFCON finals in Rabat.
The competition, which has been played every two years since 1968, will retain the biennial format until the 2027 edition to be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, before switching to a four year cycle.
Motsepe said the change was aimed at better aligning African football with the global calendar and reducing long standing clashes with the European club season.
“We have the most exciting new structure for African football,” he said. “I do what is in the interests of Africa. The global calendar has to be significantly more synchronised and harmonised.”
As part of the restructuring, CAF also announced the creation of an African Nations League, which will begin in 2029 and be staged annually.
According to Motsepe, the new competition will involve all 54 CAF member associations, divided into four regional zones, with matches played between September and November each year.
The CAF president explained that the decision was taken in consultation with FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, and the world football body’s general secretary, Mattias Grafstrom, noting that compromise was necessary to protect African football’s growth.
“We have to compromise,” Motsepe said.
CAF also confirmed an increase in prize money for AFCON winners, raising it from seven million dollars to ten million dollars, as part of efforts to boost competitiveness and reinvest more funds into football development across the continent.
