The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a historic change to the scheduling of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), confirming that the tournament will now be held every four years instead of every two. The decision was revealed on December 20 during CAF’s executive committee meeting in Rabat, Morocco, and marks one of the most significant shifts in African football since the competition began in 1957.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe explained that the change is part of a broader strategy aimed at achieving long-term financial sustainability and better alignment with the global football calendar. Although AFCON has traditionally been CAF’s biggest revenue generator—accounting for an estimated 80% of its income—the organization believes the new structure will create more consistent annual revenue streams.
The upcoming 2027 AFCON, scheduled to be hosted jointly by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, will proceed as planned. An additional tournament will take place in 2028, after which the competition will officially move to a four-year cycle. To bridge the gap between tournaments, CAF also announced the launch of a new African Nations League, set to begin in 2029 and run annually, following a similar model to UEFA’s Nations League in Europe.
One of the key motivations behind the change is to resolve long-standing conflicts between national teams and European clubs. AFCON has often been staged during the European football season, forcing clubs to release African players mid-season—a situation that has repeatedly caused tension. Although CAF previously attempted to move the tournament to mid-year, recent editions in Cameroon (2022) and Ivory Coast (2024) were still held early in the year.
Motsepe emphasized that the welfare of players was central to the decision. He stated that it is unfair for players to be caught between club and country obligations and stressed CAF’s responsibility to protect African footballers competing abroad. Aligning AFCON more closely with FIFA’s calendar is expected to ease these pressures and create a more balanced system.
In addition to structural changes, CAF also announced an immediate increase in prize money. The winners of the current tournament will receive $10 million, up from the $7 million awarded in the previous edition won by Ivory Coast.
Overall, the new AFCON format represents a bold step toward modernizing African football, improving financial independence, protecting players, and strengthening the continent’s position within the global game.