The Confederation of African Football (CAF) President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, announced that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will occur every four years starting from 2028 to address ongoing scheduling clashes with European club competitions. CAF also unveiled the African Nations League, featuring four regional zones with matches during FIFA international windows. The announcement holds special relevance for Kenya, which is preparing to co-host the 2027 edition with Uganda and Tanzania, marking the last tournament under the traditional biennial cycle.
CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe made the announcement on Saturday, December 20, 2025, following consultations with FIFA to resolve logistical and commercial challenges stemming from AFCON's biennial cycle since 1968, which has often required shifting dates between summer and winter. Under the new schedule, this year's tournament will take place in Morocco, followed by the East African edition in 2027 hosted jointly by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania under the “Pamoja” bid. CAF plans a “bridge” tournament in 2028 with the host yet to be named, before fully adopting the quadrennial format from 2032 onward.
“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.
The African Nations League will comprise four regional zones, with matches scheduled during FIFA international windows from September to November. Additionally, CAF confirmed a boost in AFCON prize money, raising it from $7 million (about Ksh900 million) to $10 million (about Ksh1.3 billion) to enhance the commercial appeal of African competitions and invest more in national teams and grassroots development.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström, who attended the announcement, described the shift as a “historic decision” and affirmed FIFA's commitment to close coordination with CAF on international fixtures. “First of all, it’s now up to CAF to decide where the competition will be played in 2028, and of course, to give the dates to us,” Grafström said. “I want to stay in touch in order to coordinate as much as possible the dates, as we did for this edition as well. It took a bit of time, but in the end, the compromise was found, which was accepted by everyone.”