CAF to launch African Nations League, AFCON to move to four-year cycle

The Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) will switch to a four-year cycle from 2028, following an announcement by Confederation of African Football (Caf) president Patrice Motsepe. Since 1968, the tournament has been held every two years, with only a one-year gap between the 2012 and 2013 editions. The change comes after the 2027 Afcon, set to be hosted in East Africa, followed by an edition in 2028, after which Afcon will align with the European Championship cycle.

Motsepe explained that the move aims to harmonise the global football calendar, which has long been disrupted by Afcon's mid-season scheduling, often conflicting with European club competitions. Meanwhile, Caf has increased the Afcon prize money for the winners from $7 million to $10 million.

In addition, Motsepe unveiled the creation of an African Nations League (ANL), set to run annually from 2029. The new competition will feature all 54 African nations divided into four zones: Northern (6 nations) and Eastern, Western, and Central & Southern (16 nations each). Matches will be played in September and October, with the zonal champions meeting in November to determine the overall winner.

Motsepe described the ANL as "the equivalent of an Afcon every year," promising that top African players based in Europe will participate. The tournament is designed to be a world-class competition in partnership with Fifa, attracting elite players and high-profile sponsorships.

This restructuring aims to balance the continent's need for competitive football, revenue generation, and alignment with the global calendar while maintaining opportunities for African nations and players to shine annually.