The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has voted against a proposal to increase the number of teams competing at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), meaning the continent’s flagship men’s international tournament will continue to feature 24 nations.
The recommendation, which would have expanded the competition to 28 teams from the 2028 edition, was put forward earlier this year by CAF president Patrice Motsepe. However, the proposal failed to win the support of the organisation’s Executive Committee after members voted on the matter.
The outcome ensures that the existing format, first adopted for the 2019 tournament, will remain in place.
According to Executive Committee members who spoke anonymously, the proposal attracted little backing during discussions before the vote was held.
One committee member described the outcome by saying: “We took a round-robin vote and the proposal was soundly rejected. It was a very bad idea. I do not know why Motsepe proposed it in the first place. There is absolutely no reason for it.”
Another Executive Committee member claimed the proposal had been introduced without prior consultation with committee members, suggesting that this contributed to its failure to secure enough support.
The rejection brings an end, at least for now, to plans that would have reshaped AFCON from 2028 onwards by increasing participation beyond its current size.
Despite the vote, CAF has indicated that discussions about the future of the competition remain ongoing and form part of a broader effort to enhance African football’s premier international tournament.
CAF Communications Director Luxolo September said the proposal to expand the competition represented only one element of a wider strategy focused on improving CAF competitions and raising AFCON’s international standing.
He said: “For the last two years or so, Caf leadership has been discussing both in person and through written communication the implementation of the vision of making Caf competitions, in particular, the Caf Africa Cup of Nations, world-class … The debate and discussion is not limited to one aspect. The conversation on the Caf Africa Cup of Nations format is an ongoing discussion within Caf.”
His comments indicate that while the expansion proposal has been rejected, CAF’s leadership continues to examine different ways of developing the tournament and strengthening its position among the world’s leading international football competitions.
CAF has repeatedly outlined its ambition to enhance AFCON’s global reputation while ensuring that the competition remains highly competitive. The governing body regards improvements to the tournament as part of its long-term vision for African football, with the format remaining one of several areas under review.
The Executive Committee’s decision means any future changes to the competition’s structure would require fresh discussions and support from the federation’s leadership.
For now, the Africa Cup of Nations will continue to be contested by 24 teams, preserving the format that has been in place since 2019 and rejecting the proposed expansion to 28 participating nations.
The decision comes only months after one of the most disputed editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, adding further significance to the debate over the tournament’s future direction, even as CAF insists wider conversations about improving the competition will continue.
