Rabat (Morocco), Dec.22,
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the creation of a new African Nations League as part of a major restructuring of senior national team competitions on the continent.
CAF also guaranteed that Africa will host a world-class senior national team competition every year, except during FIFA World Cup years, when African teams that qualify for the global tournament will focus on World Cup preparations.
The CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, made the announcement, saying the new structure would significantly improve the quality, commercial value and global competitiveness of African football.
Motsepe said the African Nations League would be organised in partnership with FIFA and would feature the best African players competing in top leagues around the world.
According to him, during FIFA World Cup years, no African senior national team competition will be held to allow the nine or 10 African countries that qualify for the tournament to prepare adequately.
He explained that the restructuring would deliver major financial and commercial benefits to all 54 CAF member associations.
Motsepe disclosed that CAF had initiated a one-billion-dollar tender process which would enable the organisation to contribute one million dollars annually to each member association.
He noted that this represented a five-fold increase from the 200,000 dollars previously allocated to each association before the current CAF leadership.
The CAF president said a significant portion of the funds would be invested in youth football development for boys and girls, describing it as a critical investment in the future of African football.
He added that CAF youth competitions, women’s and men’s club competitions, zonal and regional tournaments, as well as staff welfare, would all receive increased financial support.
Motsepe also announced that prize money for the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup would be increased, with details to be unveiled after the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025.
He said the restructuring would also help align African football calendars with global fixtures, reducing conflicts between club and national team commitments for African players abroad.
Motsepe stated that the reforms followed extensive consultations with sponsors, partners and stakeholders, expressing confidence that African football would benefit significantly.
He concluded by saying that the future of African football was bright.
