Rabat, Morocco — The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled a comprehensive football strategy that includes the introduction of the African Nations League (ANL) and a restructured Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). At a press conference following a CAF Executive Committee meeting, President Patrice Motsepe outlined the new initiatives.
The ANL will consist of two primary formats: the “African Nations League – Continental “and the “African Nations League – Pan African.”The Continental tournament is set to be an annual event, with teams competing within their respective geographical zones. The top two teams from each zone will then qualify for a biennial final tournament, hosted in a neutral country.
The Pan African league will follow a format similar to the current AFCON, but with a focus on including professional players from Europe, Asia, and the Americas. This tournament will also be held every two years.
In a significant change, AFCON will now be expanded to 28 teams from the previous 24 and will be played every four years. The next edition of AFCON is scheduled for 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, followed by another in 2028, after which the tournament will enter a new four-year cycle. Paragraph: The introduction of the ANL and the restructured AFCON aims to enhance the competitive landscape of African football and provide more opportunities for teams across the continent.
Source: moroccoworldnews
