The Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, will now take place every four years from 2028.
This was revealed by Patrice Motsepe, the president of the Confederation of African Football, CAF, on Saturday.
Motsepe revealed the change as part of a significant restructuring of the international game on the continent to help it fit better into a packed global calendar.
“Our focus now is on this AFCON, but in 2027 we will be going to Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, and the AFCON after that will be in 2028,” Motsepe told reporters in Rabat on Saturday, on the eve of the opening game of this year’s Morocco-hosted Cup of Nations
“We have the most exciting new structure for African football,” Motsepe said.
“I do what is in the interests of Africa. The global calendar has to be significantly more synchronised and harmonised.”
Since 1968, the tournament has been played every two years.
There was, however, a one-year gap between the 2012 and 2013 editions.
But after the 2027 edition in East Africa and the next one in 2028, it will switch to a four-year cycle.
