Africa Cup of Nations to Shift to Four-Year Cycle from 2028 Amid Financial Concerns
The Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) will be held every four years starting in 2028, replacing the current two-year cycle. This change aims to boost the commercial impact and global profile of African football. The plan was confirmed by Caf president Patrice Motsepe at Rabat, despite his previous disagreements with FIFA president Gianni Infantino in 2021 over financing.
The shift to a quadrennial tournament raises concerns about potential revenue losses, as Afcon historically accounts for about 80% of Caf's income. Member associations fear the impact this will have on their finances. To offset these concerns, Motsepe is banking on the launch of an annual African Nations League starting in 2029 as a new revenue source.
Caf general secretary Véron Mosengo-Omba, who joined from FIFA in 2021 and is viewed as pivotal in implementing Infantino's plans, has faced criticism for managing Caf as a proprietorship and fostering a fear-based culture.
In support of member associations, Caf has announced an increase in annual funding from $200,000 to $1,000,000. Additionally, Caf has committed to providing resources to pay competitive salaries for its staff.
The future of other competitions such as the African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the Cosafa Cup remains unclear, with no definitive decisions announced yet.
Scheduling pressures, including more European club fixtures and the expansion of FIFA’s Club World Cup, have tightened Afcon's calendar. As a result, the tournament has been moved to December, a slot it has occupied since the 2019 edition in Egypt. FIFA also plans to introduce a new September–October international window starting next year.
