The Confederation of African Football will introduce a new annual continental competition, the Africa Nations League, from 2029, marking a significant shift in the organisation of international football on the continent.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced the plan in Rabat on the eve of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, describing the new tournament as a way to ensure elite African internationals compete on the continent every year.
He said the Nations League would deliver “the equivalent of an AFCON every year,” with the highest level of African football maintained on an annual basis.
The new competition forms part of a broader restructuring that will see the Africa Cup of Nations move to a four-year cycle from 2028, ending its long-standing biennial format.
CAF believes the Nations League will sustain commercial interest and competitive momentum during the longer intervals between AFCON tournaments.
Motsepe said the reforms are designed to reduce persistent clashes with the global football calendar and ease tensions with European clubs over player release.
The 2025 AFCON was moved to December after scheduling conflicts with the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, with clubs securing a delayed release date that narrowed preparation time for national teams.
CAF views the annual Nations League as a stabilising measure after a decade of calendar volatility for AFCON, which has seen changes in timing and tournament size.
Motsepe said the combined reforms aim to create a more harmonised international schedule while safeguarding the interests of African players and the long-term value of the continent’s competitions.
