CAF Expands AFCON to Feature 28 Teams

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be expanded from 24 to 28 participating nations. The decision comes as part of CAF’s plan to give more countries the opportunity to compete on the continent’s biggest football stage.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe described the expansion as a step toward growing African football and increasing the tournament’s global appeal. He emphasized that more teams will create new opportunities for players and fans across Africa.

Details on how the additional teams will be incorporated into the tournament format are yet to be released. However, officials confirmed that the next AFCON, scheduled for 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, will be held under the new setup.

The move continues a trend of expanding the competition in recent years. CAF also indicated that further initiatives are planned to strengthen football development across all member associations.