The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced the abolition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN), bringing to an end a continental tournament that had been a key platform for players competing in their respective domestic leagues across Africa.
The decision was taken by the CAF Executive Committee and formally communicated on Saturday, January 17, 2026, approximately five months after the conclusion of the most recent edition of the competition, which was jointly hosted by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.
The tournament saw Morocco crowned champions, further cementing their dominance in African football at domestic-league level.
CHAN, which was first introduced in 2009, was designed to promote and develop local leagues and home-based players by restricting participation to footballers who play in their countries’ domestic competitions.
Over the years, the tournament played a significant role in exposing emerging talent and strengthening local football structures across the continent.
However, after 16 years of existence, CAF has now decided to discontinue the competition, citing financial and organisational challenges.
Speaking during a press briefing in Rabat, CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe openly acknowledged that the tournament had become economically unviable, stressing that the cost of organising CHAN far outweighed its financial returns.
“There will be no CHAN. There is no need for CHAN. CHAN is an event that loses a significant amount of money on a very large scale,” Motsepe said.
Motsepe explained that CAF is currently undergoing a broader strategic review of its competitions, aimed at ensuring sustainability, efficiency and greater commercial value.
According to him, the governing body can no longer afford to maintain tournaments that place a heavy financial burden on CAF and its member associations without delivering sufficient economic benefits.
The decision to abolish CHAN marks a major shift in CAF’s competition framework, particularly affecting players based in local leagues who previously relied on the tournament as a pathway to international exposure and professional opportunities.
CAF further indicated that resources previously allocated to CHAN will now be redirected towards strengthening existing competitions and developing new formats that align with international football calendars, including FIFA windows, while also improving revenue generation and global visibility.
Since its inception, CHAN has been hosted by several African nations and has served as a unique platform that distinguished itself from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which allows the participation of foreign-based players. Despite its developmental objectives, CAF believes the tournament no longer fits into its long-term vision for African football.
The abolition of CHAN is expected to spark debate among football stakeholders across the continent, particularly national associations, clubs and players who benefited from the competition.
Nevertheless, CAF maintains that the decision is necessary to ensure the financial stability and future growth of African football.
