CAF launches African Nations League, promises annual world-class national team competition
Under the new arrangement, CAF will not stage a senior national team competition during FIFA World Cup years, allowing the nine or ten African teams that qualify for the global tournament to focus fully on World Cup preparations.
The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has officially announced the launch of the African Nations League, a new flagship competition aimed at ensuring that Africa hosts a world-class senior national team tournament every year, featuring the continent’s best football talent.
In a statement released on Monday, CAF said the African Nations League will be organised in partnership with FIFA and is part of a major restructuring of African senior national team competitions designed to enhance quality, global competitiveness, and commercial value.
Under the new arrangement, CAF will not stage a senior national team competition during FIFA World Cup years, allowing the nine or ten African teams that qualify for the global tournament to focus fully on World Cup preparations.
CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe described the move as a landmark moment for African football.
“We are excited about the new changes that we have introduced, which will make African Senior National Team Competitions amongst the best in the world, with the best African football players who play in the best leagues in the world participating every year in Africa,” Motsepe said.
Financial Boost for Member Associations
Motsepe revealed that the restructuring, alongside a USD 1 billion commercial tender, will significantly increase financial support to CAF’s 54 Member Associations. Each association will now receive USD 1 million annually, a fivefold increase from the USD 200,000 previously allocated before the current CAF leadership.
He said the funding would strengthen football development across the continent, with a strong focus on youth.
“We will allocate a substantial amount of financial and other resources to training and developing young boys and girls football players, as this is among the best investments we can make for the future of African football,” he said.
CAF also confirmed increased funding for youth competitions, women’s and men’s club football, zonal and regional tournaments, and improved remuneration for CAF employees.
Increased Prize Money for Club Competitions
Motsepe further announced that prize money for the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup will be increased. The new figures are expected to be unveiled after the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025.
Fixture Alignment with Global Football Calendar
CAF said another key benefit of the new structure is the alignment and synchronisation of African football fixtures with the global calendar, a long-standing concern for players based in Europe and other top leagues.
“We want to ensure that African football players do not find themselves in calendar conflicts between their clubs and national teams,” Motsepe said, noting that the reforms were developed in consultation with FIFA, sponsors, partners, and other stakeholders.
“The Future of African Football Is Bright”
CAF expressed confidence that the African Nations League and broader reforms will elevate the continent’s football profile, attract greater commercial interest, and provide consistent, high-quality competition for fans and players alike.
“I am confident that African football will benefit enormously from the new changes that we have introduced,” Motsepe said. “The future of African football is bright.”
The African Nations League is expected to become a cornerstone of CAF’s competition calendar, reinforcing Africa’s presence on the global football stage while delivering sustainable development across all levels of the game.
