The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a major overhaul of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), confirming that the tournament will no longer be staged every two years but will instead take place once every four years.
The decision was taken during a CAF Executive Committee meeting held in Rabat, Morocco, and formally unveiled at a press briefing by CAF President Patrice Motsepe. The move marks the most significant structural change to the continent’s premier football competition since its launch in 1957.
AFCON has traditionally been held biennially and is CAF’s biggest commercial asset, accounting for an estimated 80 percent of the confederation’s total revenue. Despite this reliance, CAF leadership has opted for a longer cycle to align African football more closely with the global calendar.
Key points from the announcement include:
• The 2027 AFCON, to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, will proceed as planned.
• An additional tournament will be staged in 2028.
• From that point onward, AFCON will be held every four years.
To compensate for the reduced frequency of the tournament, CAF will introduce an African Nations League, scheduled to begin in 2029 and run annually. The competition is modeled on Europe’s Nations League and is expected to provide consistent revenue streams and competitive fixtures for national teams.
“Historically, the Nations Cup was our primary source of income,” Motsepe said. “With this new structure, we will generate financial resources every year while moving toward sustainable financial independence.”
Addressing a Long-Running Calendar Conflict
The timing of AFCON has been a persistent source of tension between African national teams and European clubs, as the tournament has often taken place during the European season. This has forced clubs to release key players mid-season, creating disputes over player welfare and availability.
Although CAF previously attempted to resolve the issue by shifting AFCON to mid-year from 2019, subsequent editions in Cameroon (2022) and Ivory Coast (2024) reverted to early-year scheduling. The current tournament in Morocco was also postponed by six months after FIFA expanded and rescheduled the Club World Cup, held in the United States in June and July.
Motsepe emphasized that the new four-year cycle is designed to protect players and reduce conflicts with clubs.
“We have a duty to the players,” he said. “It’s unfair when they are caught between club and country. This decision is in the interests of teams, clubs and players alike.”
Financial Incentives Increased
CAF also confirmed an immediate boost in prize money. The winners of the ongoing AFCON in Morocco will receive $10 million, up from the $7 million awarded to the champions of the previous tournament won by Ivory Coast.
The current competition marks the 35th edition of AFCON and kicks off with host nation Morocco facing Comoros, setting the stage for what CAF says is the beginning of a new era for African international football.
Source: Africa Publicity
