African football is entering a new era with a major restructuring of its top tournaments, as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announces the creation of the African Nations League and a shift in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) schedule to a four-year cycle.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe made the announcement ahead of the 2025 Afcon in Morocco, signaling a transformative period for football on the continent.

“What is new is that … in Africa there’s going to be a competition every year where the best African players who play in Europe and worldwide will be with us on the continent,” Motsepe said, highlighting the opportunity for African fans to regularly witness top talent playing locally.

Afcon Moves to a Quadrennial Schedule

Since 1968, the Africa Cup of Nations has been held every two years, with only a few exceptions. However, CAF has now confirmed that the tournament will adopt a four-year cycle starting after the 2028 edition.

The upcoming 2027 Afcon will take place in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, with the 2028 tournament following in a yet-to-be-determined host nation. After that, the next Afcon will be held in 2032, aligning the competition with the European Championships.

CAF has also increased the Afcon winners’ prize money from $7 million to $10 million, reflecting the growing prestige and commercial value of the tournament.

Introducing the African Nations League

In a historic move, CAF will launch the African Nations League in 2029, providing an annual platform for all 54 African member nations. The tournament will be structured across four geographic zones, Northern, Eastern, Western, and Central/Southern, with matches taking place in September and October, culminating in a finals showdown in November.

Motsepe emphasized the importance of the new league: “Every year in Africa, the best African players who play in Europe will be with us on the continent. Every year we will have a competition with 54 African nations with all the best players coming here to play. We are going to have a world-class competition every year.”

The African Nations League is designed to become “the equivalent of an Afcon every year,” and CAF plans to partner with FIFA to attract top-level sponsors and global exposure.

Rationale Behind the Changes

The shift to a four-year Afcon cycle addresses long-standing scheduling conflicts, especially with European club seasons. Recent tournaments have faced disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic and adverse weather conditions in Central and West Africa, forcing some editions to be held in January or February.

CAF’s goal is to harmonize the African football calendar with the global schedule while maintaining opportunities for revenue generation and reinvestment into African football development.

Looking Ahead

The upcoming years will see a dynamic transformation of African football:

  • 2025 Afcon: Morocco (final on January 18, 2025)
  • 2027 Afcon: Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania
  • 2028 Afcon: Host TBD
  • 2032 Afcon: Next quadrennial edition
  • 2029 onwards: Annual African Nations League involving all 54 CAF members

With these changes, CAF aims to bring top-class football to fans every year and strengthen Africa’s footprint in global football.