Rabat: Patrice Motsepe, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has announced that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will transition to a four-year cycle after the 2027 edition. This announcement was made following a CAF Executive Committee meeting in Rabat, preceding the 35th AFCON, which is set to commence on Sunday in Morocco. The tournament’s opening match will feature hosts Morocco against the Comoros national team in group A.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, AFCON has been held biennially since 1968, with the exception of a one-year gap between the 2012 and 2013 editions. Motsepe also revealed an increase in prize money for the tournament winners, from seven million dollars to ten million dollars. To address the gap created by the new four-year cycle, it was announced that an annual African Nations League would begin in 2029.
The CAF President highlighted the importance of the new structure for the federation’s financial sustainability and alignment with the FIFA calendar. Historically, AFCON has been a significant revenue source for CAF, and the transition to a four-year cycle follows consultations with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafstr¶m. Motsepe emphasized that the global football calendar requires better synchronization and harmonization.
The African Nations League will involve all 54 CAF member associations, organized into four zones: Northern, Eastern, Western and Central, and Southern. The league aims to replicate the excitement of AFCON annually and will be organized in collaboration with FIFA to attract leading sponsors and showcase top African talent.