What You Need to Know
CAF President Patrice Motsepe has announced that the African Cup of Nations will transition to a four-year cycle starting in 2028, moving away from its current biennial format. This change is part of a broader restructuring of football in Africa, aimed at aligning with the global football calendar and enhancing financial resources through a new annual tournament.
Africa. CAF President Patrice Motsepe has announced that the African Cup of Nations will be held every four years starting in 2028, marking a significant change from its current biennial format.
Motsepe revealed this change as part of a comprehensive restructuring of football on the continent, stating, “To ensure that the global football calendar is more harmonious.”
The biennial organization of the tournament has been a major source of revenue for African national federations, but Motsepe explained that launching a new annual tournament called the “African Nations League,” similar to the UEFA Nations League, will help enhance financial resources instead.
Motsepe told reporters in Rabat, on the eve of the opening match of the Morocco edition, “Our focus is now on this edition of the Cup of Nations, but in 2027 we will go to Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, and the next edition will be in 2028.”
He added, “Then after the Club World Cup in 2029, we will launch the first edition of the African Nations League… with more financial prizes, more resources, and more competition. As part of the restructuring (calendar), the African Cup of Nations will be held every four years.”
The continental tournament has been held biennially since its first edition in 1957, but it has struggled in recent years to find a suitable place within the crowded global calendar.
The Morocco edition will be the eighth in 15 years, following the 2012 edition held in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
The African Cup of Nations (AFCON) has been a biennial tournament since its inception in 1957, providing a platform for African nations to showcase their football talent. Over the past 15 years, the tournament has faced challenges in fitting into the crowded global football calendar, prompting discussions about its frequency and scheduling. The upcoming changes aim to improve the competition’s financial viability and align it better with international football events, reflecting a significant shift in African football governance.
