AFCON: Four-Year Cycle Confirmed From 2028 | Global Calendar Alignment

“This change is part of the plan to restructure football on the African continent and thus better align the global calendar,” Motsepe said. “In 2027 we will go to Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda and the next Africa Cup will take place in 2028,” the CAF president explained in Rabat, on the eve of the opening match of the 2025 edition.

In addition to the Africa Cup of Nations, a new African nation competition will also be established, based on the UEFA Nations League model, to be held annually from 2029. “After the Club World Cup in 2029, we will have the first African Nations League with more prize money, more resources and more competition,” Motsepe said. “Under this agreement, the Africa Cup of Nations will now take place every four years.”

Patrice Motsepe. © epa

The African Cup of Nations has been held every two years since its very first edition in 1957, but over the past fifteen years its position on the football calendar has often caused problems.

Marcus Cole

Marcus Cole is a senior football analyst at Archysport with over a decade of experience covering the NFL, college football, and international football leagues. A former NCAA Division I player turned journalist, Marcus brings an insider's understanding of the game to every breakdown. His work focuses on tactical analysis, draft evaluations, and in-depth game previews. When he's not breaking down film, Marcus covers the intersection of football culture and the communities it shapes across America.

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