The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially approved the expansion of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from 24 to 28 teams. The decision was confirmed by CAF President Patrice Motsepe following a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee in Cairo, Egypt.
The new format will be implemented starting with the 2027 tournament, which is scheduled to be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. This marks a significant increase from the 16-team format used as recently as 2013.
CAF stated that the expansion aims to provide more opportunities for national teams across the continent to participate in the prestigious competition. The qualifying structure and final tournament format for the enlarged event are expected to be announced at a later date.
The decision follows a trend of expansion in major football tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup's move to 48 teams in 2026. The next edition of AFCON, in 2025, will still feature 24 teams and will be held in Morocco.
