CAF Redraws the Map: AFCON Goes Quadrennial as African Nations League Is Born
African football is preparing for a seismic shift.
On the eve of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe unveiled a bold restructuring of the continent’s international football calendar — one that ends AFCON’s long-standing two-year cycle and introduces an African Nations League.
For the first time in its history, the Africa Cup of Nations will be staged every four years, aligning Africa with other major confederations across the globe. The move, according to CAF, is driven by player welfare, calendar stability and long-term commercial growth.
“This is the best decision for African football,” Motsepe said during a press conference on Saturday.
What Changes — and When?
The immediate future remains intact. AFCON 2027, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, will go ahead as planned. CAF will then stage another edition in 2028, with host nations to be determined through a bidding process.
From that point onward, the tournament will shift permanently to a four-year cycle, bringing to an end more than half a century of biennial AFCON competitions.
In its place, CAF will launch a new African Nations League in 2029, to be played annually during the FIFA international windows in September, October and November.
Why CAF Is Making the Move
Africa has long stood alone among major confederations by hosting its flagship tournament every two years — a model largely defended on financial grounds. AFCON has historically generated close to 80 percent of CAF’s revenue, making any change politically sensitive.
Motsepe admitted he was initially hesitant.
“I had a problem in the past about changing the Cup of Nations to every four years,” he said. “But once I was taken through the numbers, I could see we will make more money with the new calendar.”
CAF believes the new structure will unlock greater commercial value, improve broadcast planning, and create consistent competition opportunities through the Nations League.
Solving the Club vs Country Tug-of-War
Beyond finances, the decision also addresses one of African football’s longest-running tensions: AFCON clashing with the European club season.
Despite efforts to move the tournament to mid-year from 2019, recent editions in Cameroon (2022) and Ivory Coast (2024) were again staged in January and February, forcing European clubs to release key African players mid-season.
Motsepe was blunt about the consequences.
“I can’t have players leaving their clubs in Europe in the mid-season. It’s wrong,” he said.
“It’s unfair to the players. We’ve got a duty to them.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has previously urged CAF to modernise its calendar, and this decision appears to finally resolve a conflict that has frustrated players, clubs and national teams alike.
A New Era for African Football
With AFCON moving into a four-year rhythm and the African Nations League set to provide regular competitive football, CAF is betting on a future that balances prestige, player welfare and financial sustainability.
As Morocco 2025 kicks off, African football is not just crowning a champion — it is stepping into a new era.
