By: Sports Desk GhanaianNewsCanada 21/1/2026
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has introduced a new continental competition the Africa Nations League as part of a major overhaul of international football on the continent. The tournament is designed to provide regular competitive football for all African national teams and sits alongside the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in CAF’s revamped calendar.
What Is the African Nations League?
The African Nations League is a newly established tournament for the senior national teams of CAF’s 54 member associations. It will begin in 2029 and aims to ensure that African teams have competitive fixtures every year especially important after CAF announced that AFCON will shift from a biennial to a four-year cycle.
CAF plans the Nations League as a companion competition to AFCON, filling gaps in the calendar and offering opportunities for more matches involving top African players, who often play in European and other foreign leagues.
Regional Group Stage
The competition will start with a regional group phase. To reduce travel demands and build regional rivalries, CAF will divide the continent into four geographic zones:
North Africa
East Africa
West Africa
Central and Southern Africa
During designated FIFA international windows (typically in September and October), teams within each zone will compete against one another in a round-robin format. The exact structure (number of groups or size) may vary by region, but the aim is for all teams to play meaningful matches against geographically proximate opponents.
Finals Phase
At the end of the regional group stage, the top team from each geographic zone will qualify for the final phase of the competition. This last stage is scheduled for November of each year and brings the four zonal winners together to compete for the African Nations League title.
The final stage is expected to be either a short knockout tournament or a round-robin showdown, depending on CAF’s final format decisions. Regardless of the exact structure, it ensures that each edition produces a clear champion through competitive matches among the best regional teams.
Why the New League?
CAF introduced the Africa Nations League as part of a broader restructuring that includes shifting the Africa Cup of Nations to a four-year cycle starting after 2028. By creating a regular annual competition, CAF aims to keep national teams active, build fan engagement, and generate more commercial opportunities across the continent.
Unlike the now-discontinued African Nations Championship (CHAN), which only allowed players from domestic leagues, the Nations League will feature full senior squads, meaning countries can field their strongest teams, including players based abroad.
