The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is looking at the possibility of increasing the number of teams in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from 24 to 28.CAF President Patrice Motsepe made the announcement during a press conference after a recent executive committee meeting. However, he did not give details on how the tournament format would change or when the expansion might happen.
The last major expansion of AFCON took place in 2019, when the tournament grew from 16 to 24 teams. Many fans and stakeholders welcomed that change, as it gave more countries a chance to compete at the continent’s biggest football stage.Motsepe also confirmed that the 2027 edition of the tournament will go ahead as scheduled, jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
After an extra edition in 2028, the competition is expected to settle into a regular four-year cycle, similar to the FIFA World Cup.In addition, CAF plans to introduce a new annual national league competition starting in 2029.
This will feature a 16-team finals tournament held every two years.“The adjustments reflect CAF’s commitment to developing world-class football and ensuring that the best African players from across the world return to compete on the continent,” Motsepe said.Motsepe, a South African, was first elected CAF president in 2021 and was re-elected in 2025. He is the first person from South Africa to lead the continental football governing body.
This potential expansion could further boost football development across Africa by giving more nations the opportunity to shine on the big stage and increasing excitement for the tournament among fans.