The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will introduce an annual African Nations League starting in 2026, offering a top-tier competition for senior national teams across the continent.
The league will be held every year except during FIFA (International Federation of Football Associations) World Cup years, CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced on Monday.
CAF will partner with FIFA to coordinate the tournament and ensure alignment with the global football calendar. During World Cup years, the nine or 10 African teams that qualify will focus exclusively on tournament preparations, Motsepe said.
The restructuring is expected to generate financial and commercial benefits for CAF’s 54 member associations.
Under the new model, each national federation will receive $1 million annually, five times the previous allocation of $200,000.
The funding will support youth development, club competitions, and regional tournaments, as well as salaries for CAF employees.
Prize money for the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup will also increase, with details to be released after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Motsepe said the new format addresses longstanding conflicts between club and national team fixtures.
“We want to ensure that African Football players do not find themselves (as has often been the case) in the calendar or fixture conflict between their Football Clubs and their National Teams,” he said.
The changes follow consultations with sponsors, partners, and global football stakeholders.
CAF aims to elevate the quality and visibility of African football by ensuring consistent participation from top players based in international leagues.
Motsepe said the reforms position African football for long-term growth. “The future of African football is bright,” he said.
