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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be staged once every four years beginning after the 2028 edition, ending the tournament’s long-standing two-year cycle.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced the decision as part of a broader restructuring of African football aimed at better aligning the continental calendar with the increasingly congested global football schedule.
While the biennial AFCON has traditionally been a major source of revenue for African national associations, Motsepe explained that the planned introduction of an annual African Nations League—modelled after UEFA’s Nations League—would help offset potential financial losses and provide increased competition and prize money.
“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,” Motsepe told reporters in Rabat on Saturday, on the eve of the opening match of this year’s Morocco-hosted tournament.
“After the FIFA Club World Cup in 2029, we will have the first African Nations League, with more prize money, more resources and more competition. As part of this arrangement, AFCON will now take place once every four years,” he added.
The Africa Cup of Nations has largely been held every two years since its inaugural edition in 1957. However, over the past 15 years, the tournament has faced persistent scheduling challenges due to conflicts with domestic leagues and international competitions.
This year’s tournament in Morocco marks the eighth edition of AFCON held since the 2012 competition co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
