The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has approved a major restructuring of its flagship competition, announcing that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be held once every four years beginning after the 2028 edition.

CAF President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, disclosed the decision at a press conference in Morocco on Saturday following the meeting of the CAF Executive Committee, held on the eve of the 2025 AFCON tournament.

Under the new arrangement, the biennial format that has been in place since 1968 will give way to a four-year cycle, with the first AFCON under the revised calendar scheduled for 2032. The competition will also be aligned with the UEFA European Championship and staged in the same year.

Motsepe explained that the move was aimed at harmonising African football with the global football calendar and reducing the long-standing conflicts between AFCON and European club competitions, which often struggle to release players mid-season.

“The global football calendar has to be significantly synchronised and harmonised,” Motsepe said. “What we have approved is in the best interest of African football and its long-term growth.”

Although the proposal for a four-year AFCON cycle was previously floated by FIFA and rejected by CAF, the African football body has now embraced the idea as part of a broader reform agenda.

In another major development, Motsepe announced the introduction of an African Nations League, scheduled to commence in 2029. According to him, the new competition will provide CAF with a sustainable annual revenue stream and ensure regular competitive matches for all 54 African nations.

“Historically, the Nations Cup has been our primary source of revenue,” he said. “With the Nations League, African football will generate financial resources every year, strengthening our independence and stability.”

Motsepe added that the Nations League would ensure that Africa’s top players, including those based in Europe, return to the continent annually for high-quality international competitions.

The CAF Executive Committee also approved an increase in prize money for the AFCON winners, raising it from $7 million to $10 million, in a move aimed at further enhancing the tournament’s global appeal.

The reforms mark one of the most significant overhauls of African football competitions in decades, signalling CAF’s intent to reposition the continent within the global football ecosystem.