The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is planning a major expansion of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with the tournament set to grow from 24 to 28 teams in the near future.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced the proposal on Sunday, describing it as a significant move aimed at strengthening African football and giving more countries a chance to compete on the continent’s biggest stage.
Motsepe said increasing the number of teams would also motivate African players based abroad to return and take part in continental competitions, boosting the overall quality and appeal of the tournament.
However, CAF has not yet revealed how the expanded format will work or how teams will qualify under the new system.
The changes will not affect the next edition of the tournament. The 2027 AFCON, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, will still feature 24 teams, continuing the format introduced in 2019 when the competition was expanded from 16 nations.
CAF is also planning further adjustments to its football calendar. A separate AFCON tournament will be staged in 2028, after which the competition is expected to shift to a four-year cycle.
In addition, CAF intends to launch a new Nations League competition starting in 2029. This will run annually, with a 16-team finals tournament held every two years.
Motsepe emphasised that these reforms are meant to bring more structure and consistency to African football, while also unlocking the region’s potential—particularly in East Africa, which is set to host AFCON 2027.
