The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has been expanded from 24 to 28 teams, announced by Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe.
Speaking at a press conference in Cairo, Motsepe confirmed that the governing body will increase the number of participating nations, from 24 to 28.
The expansion marks another significant shift in the structure of Africa’s flagship football competition, which was last enlarged from 16 to 24 teams in 2019.
Motsepe said the move is part of a broader strategy to grow the game across the continent and give more countries the opportunity to compete on the biggest stage.
Motsepe had previously said that:
“The AFCON as we know it now is one of Africa’s most important sporting events. We want to increase it to 28 countries, and, as we have said, hold it every four years. This will allow more nations to compete at the highest level, showcase their talent, and contribute to the growth of African football.”
The current 24-team format consists of six groups of four, with the top two sides and four best third-placed teams progressing to the knockout stage.
CAF currently has 54 member associations, meaning a 28-team tournament would involve more than half of its members.
Alongside the proposed expansion, CAF has reaffirmed plans to change the tournament’s scheduling. AFCON, traditionally held every two years since 1968, is set to move to a four-year cycle from 2028.
The decision has drawn criticism from some quarters, with concerns raised about its impact on revenue, player development and the wider football calendar.
However, Motsepe believes a longer cycle will improve the quality of the competition.
By allowing more time between tournaments, national teams would have greater opportunity to prepare, build stronger squads and improve consistency, he argued.
The next edition of AFCON is scheduled to be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in 2027, under the existing 24-team format.
The expansion to 28 teams represents one of the most significant changes in the competition’s history, potentially reshaping the landscape of African football for years to come.
