The new Nations League is modelled after the European format; Caf president excited over “world-class competition every year” in Africa
The Africa Cup of Nations will be played every four years starting from 2028, and a Nations League modelled after the European format will be played on the continent every year, according to the Confederation of African Football (Caf).
The decision was confirmed by Caf president Patrice Motsepe after a meeting of the governing body’s executive committee in Morocco. Afcon has been staged every two years since its inception in 1957, aside from a brief scheduling adjustment between the 2012 and 2013 editions.
Under the new plan, after the current edition the tournament will be held again in 2027, then 2028, and then in 2032, continuing on a quadrennial cycle. The change will also ensure the competition is aligned with the European calendar.
Motsepe said the “exciting new structure” was “in the interests of Africa”, adding that it was a way to synchronise the global football calendar.
To offset the reduced frequency of Afcon, Caf will introduce an African Nations League from 2029, ensuring that elite international football is played on the continent every season.
The Nations League will involve all 54 Caf member associations, split into four regional zones. Six teams will compete in the Northern zone, with 16 nations each in the Eastern, Western and Central, and Southern zones. Matches will be played during the international breaks of September and October, with regional winners advancing to a final stage in November to crown an overall champion.
“Every year in Africa, the best African players who play in Europe will be with us on the continent,” Motsepe said. “Every year we will have a competition with 54 African nations with all the best players coming here to play. We are going to have a world-class competition every year.”
The timing of Afcon has long been a point of tension between European clubs and African footballing associations. The competition takes place mid-season, forcing clubs to be without players at crucial points of the season. This year’s competition saw more than 30 Premier League players depart just when the season had reached its thickest point, with clubs set to play from five to seven games before their players return.
Caf has previously considered moving the tournament to June and July, but it has clashed with the expansion of Fifa’s own calendar. There were plans to host the current edition in the summer but it was ultimately moved due to the Club World Cup. There have also been some concerns over the African rainy season, which peaks in June.
Motsepe said the latest changes were agreed in consultation with Fifa president Gianni Infantino and general secretary Mattias Grafstrom.
“We have to compromise,” Motsepe said, “but this is about building something stronger and more sustainable for African football in the long term.”
