Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe announced the Africa Cup of Nations will move to a four-year cycle after 2028, ending its biennial tradition since 1957. The decision, made in consultation with FIFA, aims to create a new African Nations League starting in 2029. This follows the 2025 tournament, which delivered record goals but a controversial final.

The move has divided opinion. Mali coach Tom Saintfiet called it "totally wrong," while Ivory Coast boss Emerse Fae believes it can be "a good thing" if African football develops. The change addresses scheduling conflicts with European clubs and FIFA's expanded Club World Cup, but ends the biennial showcase that helped launch careers like Senegal's Lamine Camara.

The new Nations League, played annually on a regional basis, could revive dormant rivalries like Ghana vs. Nigeria. However, it spells the end for the African Nations Championship (CHAN), a tournament for domestic-based players Motsepe called a "spectacular money-loser." The financial impact remains unclear, though Afcon profits have soared under Motsepe to a forecasted $114 million for 2025.