CAF President Patrice Motsepe has announced a historic shift for the Africa Cup of Nations, moving the tournament to a four-year cycle from 2028, alongside the launch of a new African Nations League. An opportunity, or a risk to the development of African football? DR ‹ › The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, dropped a major announcement regarding the future of the Africa Cup of Nations, whose 35th edition is currently being held in Morocco. Speaking at a press conference in Rabat on Sunday, one day before the AFCON 2025 opener between Morocco and Comoros, Motsepe announced that the continental competition will shift from a biennial format to a four-year cycle. This historic change, which breaks with a tradition in place since the tournament's launch in 1957, will come into effect from 2028. Motsepe also made a second major announcement: the creation of the CAF African Nations League. Inspired by UEFA's Nations League, the new competition is set to take place annually. A loss of rhythm and identity? «I'm not a big fan of moving the Africa Cup of Nations to a four-year cycle», Moroccan sports journalist Hanif Ben Berkane told Yabiladi. To the Footmercato journalist, AFCON is more than just a football competition; it is «a celebration» unique to Africa. «That kind of fervour doesn't really exist on other continents», he stressed, «different from the World Cup, the Euros, or the Copa América». Beyond the festive aspect, Ben Berkane sees AFCON as a crucial platform for African national teams «to compete regularly and progress toward the top level». Reducing its frequency, he warned, «would slow the development of national teams, because they would have fewer competitive matches to measure themselves against one another». Club pressure and institutional calculations To Ben Berkane, however, Motsepe's announcement is «largely driven by political and institutional considerations». «One of the main objectives is to reduce conflicts with clubs», he said, referring to tensions that resurfaced weeks before AFCON 2025, as European clubs once again showed reluctance to release African players. «We know that FIFA, despite its decision-making power over clubs, has never really succeeded in properly coordinating relations between clubs and national teams», he notes. This analysis is shared by Netherlands-based Moroccan journalist Mustapha Esadik, author of «Football Champions of Africa». «It feels as if the interests of clubs—not only European ones, but also those from the Gulf—are taking precedence over the rich tradition of the Africa Cup of Nations», he argued. Esadik pointed out that «we have recently seen top European clubs reluctant to sign African players because they don't want to lose them during the winter months», when AFCON is traditionally played. «I don't think it's a coincidence that clubs like Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Chelsea currently have no African players, despite the abundance of talent», he remarked. Financial stakes and prestige Beyond institutional tensions, the four-year format could have significant financial consequences for both CAF and national teams. «The Africa Cup of Nations is a major financial pillar for many national teams», said sports journalist Said El Abadi, author of «The History of African Football». «It brings in substantial revenue for teams that qualify. Reducing its frequency means fewer financial opportunities», he told Yabiladi. Yet El Abadi does not see only downsides. He believes that, despite the setbacks, a four-year AFCON could become «more prestigious», on one condition: timing. «The competition must find a proper place in the international football calendar», he said, suggesting alignment with major tournaments like the European Championship and the World Cup cycle, «not at the same time, of course, but within that framework». A summer AFCON could be an option, he added, though with limits. «In Morocco and the Maghreb, it's possible. Further south, it becomes much more complicated». Beyond the question of prestige, a four-year AFCON could bring another potential benefit: increased competition among host nations. «With AFCON now held every four years, there will be greater competition between candidate host countries», Esadik remarks, adding that in the future, smaller nations may cooperate more closely to challenge larger bids. Filling the gap: the African Nations League Analysts see the African Nations League as CAF's attempt to fill the competitive gap left by a less frequent AFCON. According to El Abadi, it «would allow for more high-profile clashes between top teams, as we see in Europe». «Matches like Morocco–Algeria, Morocco–Senegal, or Morocco–Egypt could happen more often, which would be very interesting both sportingly and financially», he said. Regular top-level encounters, he added, would raise overall standards and better prepare teams for major tournaments such as the World Cup. Still, the downsides remain. «Smaller national teams would have fewer opportunities to generate revenue», El Abadi cautioned, a concern echoed by Esadik. «For countries like Morocco, it's positive. For smaller nations, it could be less so». What it means for Moroccan players Locally, CAF's decision could affect Moroccan players in European clubs. «Having a competition every four years, ideally in the summer, would make it much easier to release players», El Abadi said, referring to situations where players were freed just six days before kickoff. That change could encourage European clubs to recruit more Moroccan and African players. «Clubs hesitate because AFCON takes place in December or January, disrupting the season. With a summer tournament, that obstacle disappears», he said. Ben Berkane, however, is more cautious. «Moroccan players are already increasingly trusted by top European clubs», he argued. While acknowledging that smaller nations could benefit from greater exposure, he believes that «European clubs no longer really factor AFCON into decisions involving Moroccan players. They trust their continuity». Article modifié le 23/12/2025 à 18h49
