CAF confirms AFCON expansion to 28 teams, targets calendar reforms

The president of Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, has announced plans to expand the Africa Cup of Nations from 24 to 28 teams, Sport360NG reports. 

Motsepe disclosed the decision on Sunday following a CAF executive committee meeting, stating that the move underscores the organisation’s ambition to elevate African football by bringing together top talent from across the globe to compete on the continent.

However, he did not clarify how the competition format would be adjusted to accommodate the additional four teams or specify when the new structure will be implemented.

The AFCON tournament was previously expanded from 16 to 24 teams in 2019, a format that has been retained for the last four editions.

Motsepe also confirmed that the 2027 AFCON will proceed as scheduled across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. He added that another edition will take place in 2028, after which the competition is expected to adopt a four-year cycle.

In addition, CAF is planning to introduce a Nations League competition in 2029, featuring a 16-team finals tournament to be held biennially.

Addressing CAF’s broader objectives, Motsepe emphasised the need for a more structured and reliable football calendar across the continent, while highlighting East Africa as a key region for development due to its untapped potential.

The expansion represents CAF’s latest effort to broaden participation in its flagship tournament and provide more opportunities for emerging national teams to compete on the continental stage.