{"id":44956,"date":"2025-12-20T16:09:41","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T16:09:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/?p=44956"},"modified":"2025-12-20T16:09:41","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T16:09:41","slug":"afcon-to-be-held-every-four-years-starting-2028","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/afcon-to-be-held-every-four-years-starting-2028\/","title":{"rendered":"AFCON to be held every four years starting 2028"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, has confirmed plans for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be staged every four years.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7515973527815049\" data-ad-slot=\"5197133662\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p>The announcement of the new schedule was made on Saturday, December 20, bringing an end to a long-standing tradition of the tournament being held every two years since 1968.<\/p>\n<p>The changes to the format of the tournament will take effect after the 2027 edition, which will be staged in Eastern Africa.<\/p>\n<p>The 2028 edition will follow, after which the four-year cycle will officially begin.<\/p>\n<p>According to Motsepe, the change is part of a bold vision for the future of African football.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have the most exciting new structure for African football,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a belief within the association that the new format will help improve the quality of the tournament, allow better preparation for host nations, and reduce scheduling pressure on players and clubs.<\/p>\n<p>CAF has also unveiled plans for a new African Nations League, which will start from 2029.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7515973527815049\" data-ad-slot=\"5197133662\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, has confirmed plans for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be staged every four years.\u00a0 &nbsp; The announcement of the new schedule was made on Saturday, December 20, bringing an end to a long-standing tradition of the tournament being held every two years<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":44957,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17026,8417],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44956","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-afcon-2025","8":"category-featured"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Afcon-Trophy.jpg?fit=149%2C148&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8jzHl-bH6","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":30478,"url":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/caf-president-encouages-ghana-to-bid-for-afcon-tournament\/","url_meta":{"origin":44956,"position":0},"title":"CAF president encouages Ghana to bid for AFCON tournament","author":"Raphael Bannerman-Quartey","date":"October 28, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe has encouraged Ghana to put in a bid to host the Africa Cup of Nations tournament. The CAF President toured Ghana on a two-day visit last week and was among the guest speakers at the Youth Connekt Summit held\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;African Football&quot;","block_context":{"text":"African Football","link":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/category\/african-football\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ee5a2ea28e14dcf7.jpg?fit=1000%2C525&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ee5a2ea28e14dcf7.jpg?fit=1000%2C525&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ee5a2ea28e14dcf7.jpg?fit=1000%2C525&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ee5a2ea28e14dcf7.jpg?fit=1000%2C525&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":43067,"url":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/caf-elections-patrice-motsepe-re-elected-as-caf-president-for-second-term\/","url_meta":{"origin":44956,"position":1},"title":"CAF Elections : Patrice Motsepe re-elected as CAF President for second term","author":"Raphael Bannerman-Quartey","date":"March 12, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"South African billionaire Dr Patrice Motsepe has been re-elected\u00a0 CAF President at the 14th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly on Wednesday 12 March, 2025 in Cairo, Egypt. The Billionaire was undecided about re-contesting for the CAF presidency but went ahead to make his move official in October 2024. He yielded to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;CAF Elections&quot;","block_context":{"text":"CAF Elections","link":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/category\/caf-elections\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Patrick-Motsepe.jpg?fit=720%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Patrick-Motsepe.jpg?fit=720%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Patrick-Motsepe.jpg?fit=720%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Patrick-Motsepe.jpg?fit=720%2C480&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":39173,"url":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/caf-and-visa-sign-exclusive-partnership-for-african-football-competitions\/","url_meta":{"origin":44956,"position":2},"title":"CAF and VISA sign exclusive partnership for African football competitions","author":"Selasi Fiawoyi","date":"October 12, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"CAF and VISA sign exclusive partnership for African football competitions. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and VISA have formalized a significant collaboration, appointing VISA as the official and exclusive payment partner for various CAF competitions. This partnership encompasses esteemed tournaments, including the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;African Football&quot;","block_context":{"text":"African Football","link":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/category\/african-football\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/caf-visa.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/caf-visa.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/caf-visa.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/caf-visa.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/caf-visa.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":33243,"url":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/var-to-be-used-in-2022-womens-africa-cup-of-nations\/","url_meta":{"origin":44956,"position":3},"title":"VAR to be used in 2022 Women&#8217;s Africa Cup of Nations","author":"Clinton Eleto","date":"July 2, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The 2022 TotalEnergies Women\u2019s Africa Cup of Nations has already been groundbreaking and the tournament will for the first time see the use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) at all 28 matches of the tournament.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThis is a bold step in the right direction. As women\u2019s football is growing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;2022 WOMEN'S AFCON&quot;","block_context":{"text":"2022 WOMEN'S AFCON","link":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/category\/2022-womens-afcon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/VAR.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/VAR.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/VAR.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/VAR.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/VAR.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":33269,"url":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/official-african-super-league-kicks-off-in-august-2023\/","url_meta":{"origin":44956,"position":4},"title":"OFFICIAL: African Super League kicks off in August 2023","author":"Clinton Eleto","date":"July 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The President of CAF Dr. Patrice Motsepe on Sunday, July 3, announced that the Executive Committee has resolved that the African Super League will kick off in August 2023 and will be launched in Tanzania in August 2022. Details, including the official name, will be unveiled at the launch event.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;African Football&quot;","block_context":{"text":"African Football","link":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/category\/african-football\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/super-league-africaine-caf.jpg?fit=886%2C500&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/super-league-africaine-caf.jpg?fit=886%2C500&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/super-league-africaine-caf.jpg?fit=886%2C500&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/super-league-africaine-caf.jpg?fit=886%2C500&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":30903,"url":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/caf-calms-nerves-over-a-possible-afcon-cancellation\/","url_meta":{"origin":44956,"position":5},"title":"CAF calms nerves over a possible AFCON cancellation","author":"Selasi Fiawoyi","date":"December 15, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Amidst Rumors of a possible AFCON cancellation, CAF intensify preparation for the tournament to be hosted in Cameroon, in January. CAF on it website posted \u201cCAF General Secretary joins team in Cameroon as preparations for TotalEnergies AFCON intensify\u201d The European Football Association (EFA) made their intentions of not to release\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;African Football&quot;","block_context":{"text":"African Football","link":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/category\/african-football\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/screenshot.29.jpg?fit=805%2C474&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/screenshot.29.jpg?fit=805%2C474&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/screenshot.29.jpg?fit=805%2C474&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/screenshot.29.jpg?fit=805%2C474&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44956","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44956"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44956\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44958,"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44956\/revisions\/44958"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44957"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44956"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44956"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44956"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}