The Football Association of Malawi (Fam) has said the introduction of the African Nations League will facilitate the development of football in Africa.
Fam Competitions and Communications Director Gomezgani Zakazaka was reacting to Confederation of African Football (Caf)’s decision to introduce the African Nations League from 2029.
Zakazaka said the decision was a good step towards improving competition in Africa.
“We will wait for official communication on the format of the league but it is good because it guarantees competitive football for African football year in and year out.
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“It will take [much of the] space used for friendly matches. It gives us an opportunity to play highly ranked teams in competitive ties year in and year out,” Zakazaka said.
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Caf President Patrice Motsepe announced on Saturday that the African Nations League would be played every year starting from 2029.
According to ESPN, the new league would involve each of the 54 countries, divided into four geographical zones, with matches in September and October before the finals in November.
“There is going to be a competition every year, when the best African players who play in Europe and worldwide will be with us on the continent,” Motsepe is quoted as saying.
“What is going to happen now is you will have the equivalent of an Afcon every year,” he added.
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Meanwhile, Caf has announced that the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals will be played every four years from 2028.
Motsepe said the 2027 Afcon finals, to be staged in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, will go ahead as planned but that the next edition, originally scheduled for 2029, will be moved forward to be staged in 2028.
After the 2028 Afcon finals, the next edition will be played in 2032.
“The Afcon now will take place every four years because, historically, the Afcon was the prime focus where we could get resources to fund African football. In terms of this new dispensation, we will be getting resources every year,” he is quoted as saying.
