Caf amends football competition calendar
CAF (Confédération Africaine de Football) has made amendments to the football competition calendar for the 2023-2024 season. Here are the key changes:
- African Cup of Nations (AFCON): The tournament will now be held every two years, instead of every four years. The next edition will take place in 2025.
- Qualifiers for AFCON and World Cup: The qualifiers for both tournaments will now take place simultaneously, with the top teams from each group qualifying for the World Cup and the AFCON.
- CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup: The Champions League will now feature 16 teams, with the top four teams from each group qualifying for the quarterfinals. The Confederation Cup will feature 16 teams, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the quarterfinals.
- CAF Super Cup: The Super Cup, which pits the winners of the Champions League and Confederation Cup, will now be played in July instead of February.
- Women's Football: CAF has introduced a new women's competition, the CAF Women's Champions League, which will feature 12 teams from across the continent. The tournament will take place in November and December.
- Youth Competitions: The CAF U-20 and U-17 Championships will now take place every two years, instead of every four years.
- International Breaks: The international breaks for national teams will now be reduced from 14 to 10 days, to allow for more matches to be played and to reduce the impact on club competitions.
These changes aim to improve the competitiveness and organization of African football competitions, while also providing more opportunities for teams and players to participate and develop.