CAF’s E1.7 million Sihlangu boosting tourney off

Major blow for locally based players.

This follows the CAF decision to scrap the Champions of the African nations, which featured locally based players every two years.

The decision was taken during the recent CAF executive meeting held in Morocco.

The tournament had the easiest qualifying route of two rounds, and Sihlangu narrowing missed out on the 2025 edition finals following their 2-1 aggregate loss to Madagascar.

The tournament carried was worth $10 .4 million, equivalent to E170 631 760.

The champions received E3.5 million, which is equivalent to E57 435 000 and $ 100 0000 participation equivalent to over E1.7 million.

The last CHAN finals were jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Motsepe further announced the new African Nations League, which will feature all 54 countries.

The new tournament will be played annually as part of the partnership between CAF and FIFA.

The South African mining magnate said the new tournament will improve football in the continent.

“We are excited about the new changes that we have introduced, which will make African Senior National Team Competitions amongst the best in the World, with the best African football players who play in the best Leagues in the world, participating every year in Africa’s Senior National Team Competitions,” he said.