CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe has provided fresh details on the much-anticipated 2029 African Nations League, painting a picture of an ambitious, high-stakes competition designed to bring the continent’s football passion to a new level.
According to Motsepe, the tournament will feature every single one of the 54 CAF member nations, creating a truly pan-African spectacle. He highlighted the kind of emotionally charged, regionally rooted matchups that fans have long dreamed of seeing in a structured, meaningful format — classic rivalries such as Kenya against Tanzania, Ghana taking on Nigeria, Egypt facing Morocco, and Ivory Coast clashing with Cameroon. These are the kinds of fixtures, he emphasized, that naturally ignite excitement across the continent.
“We will have 54 African countries participate. Imagine Kenya vs Tanzania, Ghana vs Nigeria, Egypt vs Morocco, Ivory Coast vs Cameroon.”
“It will be staged in one country. All the best players will come to play. It will be exciting. It will take place during the FIFA window break.”
“It will be zonal-based. For example, Nigeria will host all West African games. All zonal winners will meet to fight for the ultimate prize. A draw will take place for it.”
Unlike the current Africa Cup of Nations format, the 2029 African Nations League will be hosted in a single country, allowing for a concentrated, festival-like atmosphere throughout the competition.
Motsepe stressed that this centralized approach, combined with the fact that the tournament will take place during an official FIFA international window break, should ensure the participation of Europe’s biggest African stars — meaning fans can expect to see the continent’s very best players on the pitch.
The structure of the competition will be built around Africa’s existing zonal framework. Each zone will organize its own mini-tournament, with the host nation of each zonal group staging all the matches within that zone.
For instance, Nigeria could be chosen to host the entire West African zonal phase, bringing together all the teams from that region in one location. The winners of each of the six CAF zones would then advance to a final knockout stage, where they would compete to be crowned the overall champions of the African Nations League.
A formal draw will determine the matchups for this decisive final phase, adding another layer of anticipation and drama to what Motsepe clearly envisions as one of the most exciting innovations in African football history.
Background:
The African Nations League represents one of the most significant reforms in African football history, introduced by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe as part of a broader overhaul of the continental calendar announced on December 20, 2025, just ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.
This sweeping change came amid long-standing debates over scheduling conflicts, player welfare, financial sustainability, and alignment with FIFA’s international windows.
Historically, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) had been held every two years since its inception in 1957, serving as CAF’s primary revenue source — accounting for roughly 80% of the confederation’s income — while providing regular high-level competition for Africa’s national teams.
However, the biennial format increasingly clashed with European club seasons, the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, and demands for better synchronization with the global calendar. Proposals to shift AFCON to a four-year cycle (similar to the World Cup and Euros) had been discussed for years, often linked to FIFA influence, but were resisted due to revenue concerns.
Motsepe’s announcement marked a decisive pivot: AFCON will proceed as planned in 2027 (co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda) and shift to 2028 for a one-off edition, before settling into a quadrennial cycle starting with 2032.
To fill the gap created by fewer AFCONs, ensure annual elite national team action, generate more consistent revenue, and guarantee the participation of Africa’s top stars (many based in Europe), CAF launched the African Nations League, set to debut in 2029 and run annually thereafter.
Inspired by UEFA’s Nations League, the competition aims to deliver exciting, meaningful matches every year during FIFA international breaks, typically spanning September and October for group/league phases, with finals in November.
It will include all 54 CAF member associations, divided into geographical zones (with variations reported across sources, such as four zones featuring a smaller North zone of six teams and larger groups of 16 in others, or structured around the six existing CAF zones).
Zonal competitions will see host nations within each zone staging the matches locally — for example, Nigeria potentially hosting all West African fixtures — creating intense regional showdowns. Winners from each zone will then advance to a final knockout stage, determined by draw, to crown the overall champion.
A key highlight is the promise of full-strength squads, as the timing aligns with official FIFA windows, meaning Europe’s African stars should feature prominently, unlike some previous competitions. The tournament effectively replaces the African Nations Championship (CHAN), which focused on locally based players and was abolished in the same announcement.
Motsepe has framed the Nations League as a game-changer for sustainability — providing yearly income streams rather than relying on biennial windfalls — while boosting visibility, competitiveness, and fan engagement through classic rivalries like Ghana vs Nigeria or Egypt vs Morocco.