The Digest:
The Confederation of African Football has announced a historic restructuring of the continent’s football calendar, shifting the Africa Cup of Nations from a biennial to a four-year tournament starting after the 2028 edition. CAF President Patrice Motsepe also unveiled the launch of the African Nations League in 2029, a new annual competition designed to synchronize with the global calendar and boost financial sustainability.
Key Points:
- AFCON will be held every four years from 2032, aligning with the European Championship
- The change aims to reduce club vs. country conflicts and harmonize with the FIFA calendar
- The African Nations League will debut in 2029, featuring all 54 CAF member nations annually
- Motsepe stated the league will ensure “the best African players who play in Europe will be with us on the continent every year.”
- The move is expected to diversify CAF’s revenue beyond AFCON dependency
- AFCON winner’s prize money has been increased from $7 million to $10 million
- The decision follows longstanding pressure from European clubs over mid-season releases
- Motsepe emphasized the new structure supports “sustainable financial independence.”
Sources: Complete Sports, Soccernet
