By Victor Kanayo
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has switched focus to doing away with the Confederation Cup from its list of competitions.
In the aftermath, the continent’s football body now intends to sustain the Champions League and African Football League.
According to CAF in a statement: “Proposed Changes CAF is considering a series of changes to modernise and improve the marketing and competitive structure of its club competitions.
“The primary proposal involves scrapping the CAF Confederation Cup and modifying the Champions League format.
“Key details from the proposal include: Confederation Cup to be Scrapped
The CAF Confederation Cup might be discontinued. This move would allow CAF to focus on expanding the Champions League while maintaining the African Football League as a core competition.
“Expansion of the Champions League: The Champions League could be expanded to include more teams from top-ranked member associations. Leading nations may see an increase of three to four additional clubs participating in the competition.
“New Tournament Structure: The group stage of the Champions League might grow to 32 teams. Top clubs such as Al Ahly, Mamelodi Sundowns, Espérance de Tunis, Simba SC, and RS Berkane would potentially bypass the preliminary rounds.
“Increased Match Calendar: With more teams and matches, the tournament structure will change significantly. CAF expects this expansion to boost the competition’s commercial and financial value.
“African Football League Restructuring: Discussions are ongoing regarding the format of the African Football League. The league could adopt a group-stage format or be played as a knockout competition with home-and-away fixtures to maximise revenue.
“Timeline for Implementation: These proposed changes are set to be discussed in detail after the conclusion of the current season.
“If approved, the new format is expected to take effect from the 2026/2027 season. CAF remains committed to enhancing the competitiveness and financial appeal of African club football while aligning with global football trends.”
The newly introduced African Football League made its debut in 2024.
