RABAT, Morocco – CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe delivered a series of high-stakes announcements that will redefine the continental football calendar at his 2025 AFCON final press conference in Rabat, Morocco on Saturday.
Addressing a packed room of journalists on the eve of the final, Motsepe outlined a vision centred on financial self-sufficiency, a new annual competition structure, and the official ‘killing’ of the African Nations Championship [CHAN] in favour of a lucrative new tournament.
Here are five major talking points from the presser held at the Main Media Centre, housed at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. The venue in Rabat will host the continental showpiece final Morocco and Senegal on Sunday night.
1. THE US$10 MILLION VISION FOR THE AFRICAN NATIONS LEAGUE
The most striking financial takeaway from the conference was Motsepe’s commitment to “look for” a massive $10 million [R164 million] first prize for the newly announced African Nations League.
“My main aim is to have a $10 million first prize for the African Nations League,” Motsepe declared. “I don’t know where I’ll find it, but I’ll find it.”
This prize pool would match the AFCON’s top prize, signalling CAF’s intent to raise the competition’s standards.
2. THE NEW AFCON CYCLE
Addressing the confusion over the AFCON cycle, Motsepe admitted CAF had not done enough to “prepare the ground” for the move to a four-year AFCON cycle starting after 2028. However, he countered this by explaining that fans will now see elite African football every single year.
“For us, it’s not AFCON every four years; it’s now AFCON every year with the African Nations League,” Motsepe explained.
“We cannot have a better decision than this… it is well thought out, and there are unjustified allegations that Europe does this and that. We are well respected by Europe.”
3. KILL THE CHAN TOURNAMENT
In a move that will spark intense debate, Motsepe confirmed that the CHAN, exclusively for home-based players, is no more. Describing it as a ‘spectacular money loser,’ the businessman revealed that he had been advised to scrap it since his first day in office.
“I can tell you for certain there is no CHAN anymore. The African Nations League will more than replace that,” he said, putting an end to the tournament that has struggled for commercial viability despite its role in developing local talent.
4. BACKING PAMOJA AFCON
Motsepe highlighted the presence of officials from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania [the Pamoja 2027 bid hosts] in Morocco, noting they were there to observe the organisational excellence of the 2025 tournament.
“Ethics and transparency are non-negotiable because the way we conduct ourselves in football is important to every citizen of the continent,” he stated. He added that the three federations are “excited and want to use what they have learned here in the tournament in 2027.”
5. WHY THE AFRICAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE STALLED
Regarding the stalled African Football League [AFL], Motsepe admitted the project “did not proceed”. This is “because the partners that were giving us money did not give us what we were happy with.” The AFL is an eight team tournament whose only edition was won by Mamelodi Sundowns in 2024.
Despite this, he pointed to a robust financial recovery for CAF. Under his leadership, Member Associations have seen their grants rise from $150,000 [R2.4 million] to $400,000 [6.5 million] with a goal of $1 million [R16.4 million] annually.</p>
“We run Africa for Africa,” Motsepe concluded. “I am confident the results of what we are doing will speak for themselves.”
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