AFCON to be played every four years beginning 2028, as CAF announces increase in prize money to $10 million

CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, has announced that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will move to a four-year cycle after the 2027 tournament, marking a major shift in the continent’s flagship competition.

Motsepe made the announcement in Rabat ahead of Sunday’s opening match between hosts Morocco and Comoros.

AFCON 2027, to be jointly hosted by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, will be the final edition under the current biennial format. The tournament will then transition to a four-year cycle, starting with AFCON 2028, followed by editions in 2032, 2036 and beyond.

According to a report by the Fullview, the restructuring coincides with CAF’s plan to introduce the first-ever African Nations League in 2028. The new competition will feature all 54 CAF member associations, divided into four zones — Northern Africa with six teams, and Eastern, Western, Central and Southern Africa with 16 teams each.

Matches will be played in September and October, with the winners of each zone advancing to a final tournament in November to determine an overall continental champion.

Motsepe described the African Nations League as “the equivalent of an AFCON every year”, adding that it would be organised in partnership with FIFA to attract top-tier sponsors.

“Every year in Africa, the best African players who play in Europe will be with us on the continent,” Motsepe said.

He added that: “Every year we will have a competition with 54 African nations, with all the best players coming here to play.”

He said the revised calendar would also allow CAF to focus on strengthening club competitions, youth development and infrastructure across member associations.

The changes follow years of tension between CAF, FIFA and European clubs over player availability and congested schedules. AFCON 2025 itself was delayed several times before being moved to a December start to avoid clashing with the expanded FIFA Club World Cup scheduled for the summer.

Meanwhile, CAF has increased the AFCON winners’ prize money from US$7 million (£5.2 million) to US$10 million (£7.5 million).

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