CAF Launches African Nations League as Annual Elite Competition While Expanding AFCON to 28 Teams and Shifting to Four-Year Cycle

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is preparing to reshape the continent’s international football calendar with the introduction of a new annual tournament, the African Nations League, alongside significant changes to its flagship competition, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe outlined the ambitious reforms, which aim to deliver more consistent elite-level competition for Africa’s top national teams and players, enhance commercial value, reduce fixture congestion for European-based stars, and strengthen the overall development of the game across all 54 member associations.

Background and Core Objectives
Motsepe first detailed the plans during a press conference in December 2025 in Morocco, ahead of the 2025 AFCON. He has since elaborated on them in subsequent statements, including a widely shared video clip from March 29, 2026, that generated both excitement and some confusion among fans and journalists.

The central goal is to ensure that Africa’s best national teams compete in a world-class senior tournament every year, except during FIFA World Cup years when qualified African sides will focus on global preparations. CAF has partnered with FIFA on the new league, indicating alignment with the international calendar.

The African Nations League: Two Formats for Annual Action
The African Nations League will feature two intertwined formats. The primary continental (zonal-based) format will see all 54 CAF member associations divided into four geographical zones: North Africa (UNAF, approximately 6 teams), West Africa, East Africa, and Central & Southern Africa (each with around 16 teams). Teams will play group-stage matches within their zones during the September and October FIFA international windows. The top team from each zone will then advance to a final phase – potentially hosted in a single nation – where zonal champions compete for the overall title.

This structure is designed to preserve intense regional rivalries (such as Egypt vs Morocco in the North or Nigeria vs Ghana in the West) while reducing long-distance travel and logistical costs compared to a fully pan-continental format.

A second pan-African format, described in recent statements as “identical to the current AFCON” with 24 nations, appears intended as a broader showcase element that ties into the AFCON expansion.

The league is scheduled to launch fully in 2029, with matches slotted into existing international breaks (September – November). Motsepe has expressed confidence in securing substantial prize money – targeting at least $10 million for the winner – and significant financial benefits for all 54 member associations, including an annual $1 million contribution per federation from new commercial deals and a $1 billion tender process.

In FIFA World Cup years, no senior Nations League competition will run, allowing African teams to prepare without additional distraction.

Major Changes to AFCON
To accommodate the new annual competition and better align with the FIFA World Cup cycle, AFCON will also undergo transformation.

The 2027 edition, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, will proceed as planned. A 2028 edition will follow (moved forward from a potential later slot). From 2028 onward, AFCON will shift to a four-year cycle, similar to the World Cup or UEFA European Championship.

At the same time, CAF plans to expand the finals tournament from the current 24 teams to 28 teams, increasing opportunities for more nations to participate in Africa’s premier competition.

These changes are intended to address longstanding criticisms of fixture overload for players based in Europe and elsewhere, while aiming to elevate the quality and prestige of both the Nations League and AFCON.

Potential Benefits and Challenges
If successfully implemented, the reforms could bring several advantages: more regular high-level matches to accelerate national team development, stronger zonal identities and rivalries, reduced long-haul travel, and increased commercial revenues to support grassroots, youth, women’s, and club football across the continent.

Motsepe has argued that the changes will make African senior national team events “amongst the best in the world,” with top stars featuring more consistently.

However, challenges remain. Some observers have noted the potential for added fixture congestion at a time when players and clubs globally are already complaining about overcrowded schedules. Questions have also been raised about the clarity of certain details in public announcements, with calls for more precise official documentation on formats, qualification pathways, hosting rights, and prize structures.

Implementation risks include logistical and sustainability issues that have affected past CAF initiatives. Success will ultimately depend on transparent communication, robust organisation, and genuine buy-in from players, clubs, national federations, and commercial partners.

The announcement comes amid other recent developments at CAF, including responses to controversies surrounding the 2025 AFCON final and ongoing efforts to improve refereeing standards and overall governance.