The Africa Nations League is expected to start in 2029
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has adopted an annual Africa Nations League tournament, set to begin in 2029.
The competition is similar to the UEFA Nations League in Europe, where teams from the continent compete among themselves for a trophy during international breaks.
Since the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has been shifted from a two-year cycle to a four-year cycle, the Africa Nations League is designed to keep national teams active during breaks when there are no qualifiers or major international tournaments.
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This article highlights the format of the inaugural tournament and how it will be organized, as explained by CAF:
Structure: Participating nations will be divided into four geographical zones: North Africa, East Africa, West Africa, and Central & Southern Africa.
Purpose: The regional split is aimed at reducing travel demands while preserving competitive balance and long-standing regional rivalries.
Group Phase: Each zone will stage its own group phase, with teams facing one another during the September and October international windows. These matches will serve as the first layer of qualification, ensuring that every fixture carries weight and clear consequences.
Final Phase: At the end of the group stage, only the top-ranked team from each zone will advance to the final phase. This decisive stage, scheduled for November, will bring together the four regional winners in a compact showdown.
Outcome: The final phase will determine the first-ever champion of the Africa Nations League, offering continental bragging rights and a new pathway for assessing national team progress outside major tournaments.
For CAF, the competition represents a strategic move to modernize the international calendar, sharpen competitiveness, and provide fans with meaningful fixtures beyond AFCON and World Cup qualifiers.
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Meanwhile, watch as Ghanaians celebrate Senegal’s AFCON triumph
