The Africa Cup of Nations will be held every four years starting after 2028.

Mr. Motsepe stated that this decision is part of a major restructuring plan of the international competition system in African football, aiming to better align with the increasingly crowded global football calendar.

Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the AFCON 2025 opening ceremony hosted by Morocco, Mr. Motsepe revealed that after this year’s tournament, AFCON 2027 will be held in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, followed by the 2028 edition. From that point onward, Africa’s premier national team competition will switch to a four-year cycle.

To compensate for the revenue lost from hosting AFCON every two years, CAF plans to launch a new African Nations Championship modeled similarly to the UEFA Nations League (a national team competition organized by the European Football Association). This new tournament will debut after the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup, with hopes of generating greater financial returns, higher prize money, and increased competitiveness for national teams.

AFCON has been held biennially since its inaugural edition in 1957. However, over the past 15 years, the tournament has faced ongoing challenges in scheduling due to conflicts with international and club competitions. The 2025 AFCON in Morocco marks the eighth consecutive edition since 2012.