The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially confirmed a major shake-up to the international football calendar, announcing that the Africa Cup of Nations will be held once every four years instead of its traditional two-year cycle.

The changes will come into effect from 2028. The AFCON 2027 finals, scheduled to take place across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, will go ahead as planned. One additional tournament will then be staged in 2028, after which the competition will permanently adopt a four-year rhythm.

CAF believes the revised schedule will help reduce calendar congestion and align the Africa Cup of Nations more closely with other major international tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup and continental championships in Europe and South America.

To fill the competitive gap created by the new format, CAF has also unveiled plans for a brand-new competition — the African Nations League. The tournament will be held annually, with the inaugural edition set to kick off in 2029.