The Africa Cup of Nations will be expanded from 24 to 28 teams from the 2027 edition in East Africa, the president of the Confederation of African Football (Caf), Patrice Motsepe, has announced.
The expanded tournament will debut at Afcon 2027, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from 19 June to 17 July 2027.
Motsepe confirmed the decision at a news conference in South Africa on Wednesday, describing it as a strategic move to widen participation and strengthen the continent’s flagship competition.
More nations, more opportunity
Caf’s executive decision means four extra national teams will qualify for the finals, increasing the number of participants for the first time since Afcon was enlarged from 16 to 24 teams at the 2019 tournament in Egypt.
“The African Confederation has decided to increase the number of teams participating in the Africa Cup of Nations to 28 instead of 24,” Motsepe said.
The Afcon finals have featured 24 teams for the last four editions – starting in 2019 and continuing through the subsequent tournaments – but the governing body believes there is now enough depth and quality across the continent to justify a further expansion.
Motsepe said the move is designed to “give a greater number of national teams the opportunity to appear in the African championship,” insisting that Caf is committed to opening up the competition to more countries and fanbases.
Raising standards and competition
Motsepe stressed that the decision was not only about inclusivity but also about driving up standards across African football.
He underlined that Caf “always works to strengthen the power of its competitions and raise the level of competition in them,” arguing that more places at the finals would encourage investment and development in emerging football nations.
The expansion is expected to intensify the qualification process, as more teams will have a realistic chance of reaching the finals, potentially transforming the competitive landscape across all regions of the continent.
East Africa’s historic hosting role
Afcon 2027 will mark a significant moment for East African football, with Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania set to stage the tournament jointly.
The three countries are preparing to host some of Africa’s biggest football stars in what will be one of the largest sporting events ever held in the region.
The dates for the competition have been fixed between 19 June and 17 July 2027, positioning the tournament firmly in the mid-year window.
New four-year cycle from 2028
Motsepe also confirmed a structural change to the tournament calendar.
After the 2027 edition in East Africa, the Africa Cup of Nations will shift to a four-year cycle, bringing it into line with many of the world’s major international competitions.
It means Afcon will be staged again in 2028, and from then on will be held every four years rather than every two, altering long-standing rhythms in the African football calendar and potentially easing scheduling pressures on clubs and players.
