African football’s flagship tournament, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), will shift from its traditional every‑two‑year schedule to a four‑year cycle beginning after the 2028 edition, CAF president Patrice Motsepe has confirmed. This decision marks a major structural change aimed at aligning the competition with the global football calendar and enhancing its stature on the international stage.
Since 1968, AFCON has been held biennially, but the rapid growth of club football and congested playing calendars have long created tensions between national team commitments and league schedules, particularly in Europe where many of Africa’s top players compete. The new schedule is expected to ease these conflicts and boost the tournament’s long‑term prestige and commercial appeal.
Under the transition plan, the current AFCON tournaments scheduled for 2027 co‑hosted by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania and 2028 will be the final editions under or adjacent to the old cycle. After 2028, the competition will be staged only once every four years, with fans next anticipating the 2032 edition in the restructured cycle.
To maintain year‑round engagement and competitive opportunities for national teams, CAF will also launch an African Nations League from 2029. This annual competition will feature all 54 CAF member associations competing in regional groups, culminating in a final phase that keeps the international calendar active outside the AFCON years.
CAF officials say the combined reforms the quadrennial AFCON and the new Nations League will create a balanced football ecosystem that supports player availability, enhances sponsorship and broadcast opportunities, and raises the profile of African football domestically and abroad.
As the continent’s biggest national team event enters this new era, stakeholders are hopeful the changes will not only streamline scheduling but also amplify competition quality and global recognition, making each edition of the Africa Cup of Nations a rarer and more prestigious celebration of African football talent.