The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a sweeping reform of its national team competitions, introducing a new structure centered around the African Nations League while redefining the future of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The bold initiative, championed by CAF President Patrice Motsepe, will see the current African Nations Championship phased out and replaced with a multi-tiered African Nations League system designed to increase competitiveness, frequency, and commercial value across the continent.
Under the new framework, the African Nations League will operate in two distinct formats.
The first tier, described as the continental competition, will be played annually. It will begin within regional zones, where national teams compete locally before the top performers advance to a final tournament hosted in a single country. In a significant departure from the outgoing CHAN format, this competition will allow the participation of all eligible players, including those based in Europe and other international leagues.
A second tier, branded as the Pan-African African Nations League, will take place every two years and mirror the traditional format of the Africa Cup of Nations, featuring 24 teams competing in a full-scale continental tournament.
Meanwhile, CAF has confirmed that the Africa Cup of Nations will remain in place but undergo a strategic shift. The competition will now be staged every four years, positioning it as Africa’s premier and most prestigious national team event, akin to a flagship tournament.
The restructuring signals CAF’s intent to modernize African football’s competitive calendar, create more consistent high-level match opportunities, and align more closely with global football trends.
While further details on scheduling, qualification pathways, and implementation timelines are expected, the announcement marks one of the most significant changes in African football administration in recent years — a move that could redefine the landscape of international competition on the continent.