In a landmark announcement on the eve of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe revealed that the continent’s premier tournament will transition to being held every four years starting after a planned 2028 edition.
The decision marks a significant departure from the biennial format that has defined AFCON since its inception in 1957, aimed at harmonizing the African football calendar with the increasingly congested global schedule.
Speaking to reporters in Rabat ahead of the opening match of the Morocco-hosted tournament, Motsepe outlined the restructuring: “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.”
A bidding process will soon open for nations interested in hosting the 2028 edition. Following that, the tournament will align with a quadrennial cycle, similar to the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship.
To offset the loss of revenue from fewer AFCON tournaments—a critical income source for many African federations—CAF will introduce an annual African Nations League starting in 2029, modeled after Europe’s UEFA Nations League.
“Then after the FIFA Club World Cup in 2029, we will have the first African Nations League… with more prize money, more resources, more competition,” Motsepe explained. The new competition will initially be regionalized, with zones across the continent playing matches in September and October, culminating in finals in November.
Motsepe emphasised the need for global synchronization: “We want to make sure that there is more synchronisation and that the global calendar allows the best African players every year to be in Africa.” He noted the changes were developed in consultation with FIFA, acknowledging the duty to support African players at top European clubs.
The shifting dates of recent AFCON editions—moving from traditional January-February slots to avoid rainy seasons, then to summer (as in 2019), and now to December-January for the current tournament due to conflicts with FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup and UEFA’s reformed Champions League—highlighted the calendar challenges.
Additionally, Motsepe announced an increase in prize money for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, with the winners set to receive $10 million, up from $7 million in the 2024 edition won by Ivory Coast.
The 2025 tournament kicks off on December 21, 2025, with hosts Morocco facing Comoros, running through to the final on January 18, 2026.
This restructuring is poised to reshape African international football, balancing prestige, revenue, and player welfare on the world stage.