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The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has announced the launch of a new African Nations League, confirming that Africa will now host a world-class senior national team competition every year featuring the continent’s top players.
CAF revealed that the new competition will be organised in partnership with FIFA, forming part of a broader restructuring of African senior national team tournaments aimed at elevating their global profile and commercial value.
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Under the new format, there will be no African senior national team competition in FIFA World Cup years, allowing the nine or ten African nations that qualify for the tournament to focus fully on World Cup preparations.
CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe described the initiative as a major step forward for African football. He said the changes would ensure Africa’s national team competitions rank among the best in the world, with elite African players from top global leagues competing regularly on home soil.
Motsepe also highlighted the financial benefits of the restructuring, revealing that a USD 1 billion commercial tender will enable CAF to distribute USD 1 million annually to each of its 54 Member Associations—a fivefold increase from the USD 200,000 previously allocated.
According to CAF, increased funding will also be directed toward youth football development for boys and girls, women’s and men’s club competitions, zonal and regional tournaments, and improved salaries for CAF staff. Prize money for the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup will also be increased, with details to be announced after the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025.
CAF added that the reforms will improve the alignment of global football calendars, reducing fixture conflicts between clubs and national teams—an issue long faced by African players based in Europe and other major leagues.
Motsepe said the changes followed extensive consultations with sponsors, partners, and stakeholders, expressing confidence that the reforms would deliver lasting benefits. “The future of African football is bright,” he said.
CAF