CAF confirms major change to AFCON cycle from 2028

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be held every four years starting from the 2028 edition, Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe confirmed. The tournament has previously been held every two years, and the last edition under this cycle will be in 2027 when Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda co-host the event.

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The biggest tournament on the continent has been staged every two years since 1968. The only time it was held with a one-year gap was in 2013, after CAF adopted a new cycle to stage the competition. It will now be staged on a four-year cycle after 2028.

Motsepe said the tournament should go in harmony with the global football calendar. “I do what is in the interests of Africa. The global calendar has to be significantly more synchronized and harmonized.”

The major change in the cycle will be widely accepted among top European league clubs. The tournament continues to be at the center of controversy between European clubs and African football federations when it comes to releasing players.

Africa’s footballing body previously opted to stage the tournament in the summer during the 2019 edition in Egypt and drew criticism. It is expected that the new cycle for the competition will still be staged during the December–January period.

The hosting rights for the 2028 edition have not yet been awarded. Countries such as Guinea and Mali (jointly), Angola, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Algeria, Rwanda, and Senegal have initially shown interest in hosting the tournament. Nonetheless, the change in the cycle might force some nations to rethink their interest.