Three editions until 2028
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From 2028, the Africa Cup of Nations will only take place every four years. In addition, a new African Nations League is to be introduced from 2029. This was announced by Patrice Motsepe, President of the African Football Confederation (CAF), in Morocco’s capital Rabat.
“We have the most exciting new structure for African football,” Motsepe told a news conference. The changes are “in the interests of Africa. The global calendar needs to be much better synchronized and harmonized.” This year’s Africa Cup begins on Sunday with the Comoros’ game against hosts Morocco.
Motsepe said the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, will go ahead as planned and the 2029 edition will be brought forward to 2028. The following Africa Cup will then be held in 2032 and, like the European and World Cups, will only take place in a four-year cycle.
Nations League now also in Africa
The change in rhythm means the African Nations League could celebrate its premiere in 2029. According to Motsepe, all 54 members of the continent are taking part, with games in September and October before the final in November. “There will be a competition every year where the best African players who play in Europe and worldwide will be with us on the continent,” Motsepe said.
Motsepe has not yet been able to say exactly when the 2028 Africa Cup will take place. The scheduling of Africa’s most important national competition has always been a problem. The current tournament was postponed from the planned start date in the summer so that it would not clash with the new Club World Cup of the world association FIFA. Even before, the current two-year rhythm had not always been adhered to. Ivory Coast last hosted the event in spring 2024, and two editions took place in quick succession in 2012 and 2013.