December 20, (THEWILL) — The Africa Cup of Nations will transition to a four-year cycle following the 2028 edition, Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe announced on Saturday. The decision marks a fundamental shift from the tournament’s current biennial format.
Motsepe revealed the restructuring in Rabat on the eve of the Morocco-hosted tournament, confirming that Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda would stage the 2027 edition before the switch takes effect. “Then after the FIFA Club World Cup in 2029 we will have the first African Nations League… with more prize money, more resources, more competition,” he told reporters.
The introduction of an annual African Nations League competition will compensate for revenue lost through the reduced frequency of the Cup of Nations. Motsepe explained that the new tournament, modelled on UEFA’s Nations League format, would provide African national associations with the financial resources previously generated by the biennial AFCON cycle.
The Cup of Nations has maintained a two-year interval since its inaugural edition in 1957, establishing itself as African football’s premier international competition. The biennial schedule had served as a crucial revenue stream for continental football associations throughout the tournament’s 68-year history.
The tournament has faced persistent calendar conflicts over the past 15 years, with eight editions staged since the 2012 competition in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. The restructuring aims to address these scheduling difficulties whilst preserving the financial viability of African international football through alternative competitions.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
