The Africa Cup of Nations will shift to a four-year cycle beginning in 2028, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced, marking one of the most significant structural changes to African football in decades.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe said the decision reflects a broader strategy to stabilise revenues and align African competitions more closely with the global football calendar.
“The Afcon now will take place every four years because historically, Afcon was the prime focus where we could get resources to fund African football. In terms of this new dispensation, we will be getting resources every year,” Motsepe said.
The continental showpiece has been staged biennially since 1968, apart from a one-year gap between the 2012 and 2013 editions.
Under the revised framework, the 2027 AFCON—set to be hosted in East Africa—will be the final tournament on the two-year cycle, before the new four-year rhythm takes effect with a 2028 edition.
To offset the reduced frequency of AFCON, Motsepe unveiled plans for a new annual African Nations League, scheduled to launch in 2029.
He described the initiative as part of a comprehensive overhaul aimed at increasing competitive opportunities and sustainable income streams across the continent.
“We have the most exciting new structure for African football. I do what is in the interests of Africa. The global calendar has to be significantly more synchronised and harmonised,” he said.
CAF also confirmed a major increase in prize money for the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025, announcing that the tournament winners will receive USD 10 million.
The decision was approved during a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee held in Rabat, a day before the tournament’s kick-off.
The revised payout represents a 43 percent increase from the 2023 edition, when hosts Côte d’Ivoire earned USD 7 million after lifting the trophy.
It also doubles the USD 5 million awarded to the winners of the 2021 tournament in Cameroon, amounting to a 100 percent rise in prize money over four years.
Under the new structure, runners-up at AFCON Morocco 2025 will take home USD 4 million, while each semi-finalist will receive USD 2.5 million, reinforcing CAF’s stated goal of strengthening the financial foundations of African football.
