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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a historic restructuring of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), confirming that the continent’s flagship football tournament will move from its long-standing biennial format to a four-year cycle.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe made the announcement on Saturday, December 20, while addressing journalists ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, which officially kicks off on Sunday.
The decision brings to an end a tradition that has defined African football for more than five decades. AFCON has been staged every two years since 1968, making it one of the most frequently held major international football tournaments in the world.
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According to Motsepe, the transition will be gradual. The 2027 AFCON, scheduled to be hosted jointly by countries in Eastern Africa, will still be played under the existing cycle.
However, the tournament slated for 2028 will mark the final edition before the four-year cycle officially takes effect.
From that point onwards, AFCON will align more closely with other major continental competitions such as the UEFA European Championship and the Copa América, which are held every four years.
Motsepe explained that the change is part of a broader strategy aimed at strengthening African football, improving competition quality, and modernising CAF’s football calendar.
“We have the most exciting new structure for African football,” the CAF president said, describing the reforms as transformative for the game on the continent.
CAF believes the four-year cycle will allow host nations more time to prepare infrastructure, logistics, and facilities, while also improving the overall standard of the tournament. The revised calendar is also expected to reduce congestion for players, many of whom face increasingly demanding club and international schedules.
For European clubs, which have often expressed concerns about the frequency and timing of AFCON, the move could help ease tensions and foster better cooperation with African football authorities.
In addition to the AFCON calendar change, CAF has announced plans to introduce an African Nations League, a new continental competition expected to begin in 2029.
While details of the format are yet to be fully outlined, the competition is expected to mirror similar tournaments in Europe and other regions, providing more competitive matches for national teams outside major tournaments and qualifiers.
CAF officials believe the Nations League will boost competitiveness, improve ranking systems, generate additional revenue, and give fans more high-quality international football across the continent.
The decision represents one of the most significant reforms in CAF’s recent history and signals a shift toward long-term planning and sustainability in African football administration.
As the 2025 AFCON gets underway in Morocco, attention will not only be on the action on the pitch but also on how these sweeping reforms will shape the future of African football in the years ahead.
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