Official: CAF Switches AFCON to Four-Year Cycle

The Confederation of African Football has announced sweeping changes to its international calendar, confirming that the Africa Cup of Nations will now be held every four years, starting from 2028, while a new African Nations League will be staged annually.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe made the announcement in Morocco on Saturday, ahead of the kickoff of the 2025 AFCON, which begins on Sunday with hosts Morocco facing Comoros.

Motsepe explained that the 2027 AFCON, scheduled to be hosted jointly by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, will go ahead as planned. However, the next edition, initially fixed for 2029, has been brought forward to 2028. Subsequent tournaments will then follow a four-year cycle, with the next AFCON after 2028 set for 2032.

The adjustment creates room for the launch of the African Nations League, which will debut in 2029. According to Motsepe, the competition will involve all 54 CAF member associations, grouped into four regional zones. Matches will be played in September and October, with the finals held in November each year.

Motsepe said the new structure will ensure top African players, including those based in Europe and other parts of the world, return to the continent regularly for competitive football.

He also acknowledged ongoing challenges with scheduling, noting that AFCON dates have often conflicted with global competitions. The 2025 tournament, for example, was shifted from its original summer window to avoid clashing with FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup.

FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström, who joined Motsepe during the announcement, described the changes as historic and confirmed FIFA’s readiness to work closely with CAF to align international calendars.

By moving AFCON to a four-year cycle, CAF brings the tournament in line with major continental competitions such as the UEFA European Championship, while ensuring annual revenue and competitive action through the newly introduced African Nations League.