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Patrice Motsepe confirms AFCON shift to four-year cycle as CAF unveils African Nations League
African football is set for a major transformation after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed sweeping changes to its competition calendar, including a new four-year cycle for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the introduction of an African Nations League.
CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe announced the overhaul on the eve of the 2025 AFCON tournament, describing the move as necessary to modernise African football, reduce long-standing scheduling tensions and strengthen the organisation’s financial base.
Under the new plan, AFCON will move away from its traditional two-year cycle and adopt a quadrennial format from 2028 onwards. The 2027 edition, set to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, will go ahead as scheduled.
A transitional tournament will follow in 2028, with the host nation still to be confirmed, before the competition fully settles into a four-year rhythm from 2032.
Motsepe said the changes are designed to address persistent “club versus country” conflicts, particularly for African players based in Europe, while also boosting the commercial value of CAF’s flagship tournament.
AFCON currently generates close to 80% of CAF’s revenue, and prize money for the competition has already been increased significantly, with the 2025 winners set to earn $10 million, up from $7 million in the previous edition.
“We are focused on building a sustainable and globally competitive African football ecosystem,” Motsepe said, adding that the restructuring would benefit players, clubs and national teams alike.
Alongside the AFCON calendar shift, CAF also confirmed plans to launch a new African Nations League in 2029.
The annual competition will feature all 54 CAF member associations, divided into four regional zones, with matches scheduled during FIFA international windows in September, October and November.
The tournament will conclude with a finals phase designed to keep continental competition active in years without AFCON.
The proposed reforms have received backing from several influential figures in African football, including Cameroon FA president Samuel Eto’o and Egyptian FA boss Hany Abo Rida, who have praised CAF’s efforts to modernise the game on the continent.
Supporters of the changes argue that the new structure will ease fixture congestion, reduce friction with European clubs and provide more regular competitive football for African nations.
However, there are still unanswered questions around how the African Nations League will tie into AFCON and World Cup qualification, as well as what the future holds for regional competitions such as COSAFA and CHAN.
