TThe Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced a major change to the Africa Cup of Nations, confirming that the tournament will no longer be held every two years. Instead, AFCON will adopt a four-year cycle starting after the 2028 edition, marking the most significant restructuring of the competition in decades.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe explained that the decision is part of a broader effort to modernise African football and better align it with the global football calendar. According to him, synchronising AFCON with other major international tournaments will reduce fixture congestion and improve overall planning for national teams, clubs, and players.
AFCON has traditionally been staged biennially since 1968, apart from a brief scheduling adjustment between the 2012 and 2013 tournaments. Under the new roadmap, the competition will still take place in 2027, hosted by East African nations, followed by another edition in 2028. From that point onward, the four-year cycle will fully take effect.
To maintain regular international competition for African nations, CAF also plans to introduce an annual African Nations League from 2029. The new tournament is expected to provide consistent high-level matches while easing the pressure created by the previously crowded international calendar.
