CAF Outlines African Nations League Organizational Details: Held Biennially with 54 Teams Across 4 Zones

Patrice Motsepe, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has unveiled details of the new continental competition approved by CAF, named the African Nations League. This initiative is part of significant changes to the African football calendar, following the decision to hold the Africa Cup of Nations every four years starting from the 2028 edition.

During a press conference held in Morocco, on the sidelines of preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations finals, Motsepe clarified that the new competition will officially kick off after the conclusion of the FIFA Club World Cup scheduled for 2029.

The CAF President indicated that the 54 member associations of CAF will be divided into four geographical zones within the continent. Teams from each zone will compete against each other to determine their respective champions.

He added that the champions of the four zones will advance to the final stage, which will be held as a centralized tournament in November. The host nation for this stage will be announced later. Motsepe also confirmed that the tournament will be organized biennially.

The African Nations League follows the model of the UEFA Nations League, which launched in Europe in 2018. It is designed to be held during periods without major tournaments like the FIFA World Cup or the UEFA European Championship, aiming to raise the level of continental competition and ensure strong, regular matches for national teams.