The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially approved the creation of a new competition: the CAF Nations League. The announcement was made by the president of the organization, Patrice Motsepe, as part of a major reform initiative aimed at modernizing and energizing African competitions.
According to Foot Africa, this new competition will be organized around four main geographical zones: UNAF for North Africa, a Central and Southern Africa zone, an East Africa zone, and finally a West Africa zone. This structure aims to streamline the travel of national teams and reduce the logistical challenges often highlighted by federations.
The format stipulates that the teams finishing in first place in each zone will qualify directly for the semi-finals, creating a final phase designed to enhance regional rivalries and increase the sporting interest of the competition.
With this project, the Confederation of African Football aims to establish a new regular meeting point for the continent’s teams, with the goal of energizing African football and increasing competitive matches between nations. The creation of the African Nations League, which will be held annually starting in 2029, is part of a broader reform of international calendars: after 2028, the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) will shift to a four-year cycle, and the new league will ensure frequent and structured confrontations between all member federations, while improving the overall quality of competitions and the visibility of African football.
