The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a major change to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), revealing that the tournament will now feature 28 teams instead of the traditional 24.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe disclosed the decision on Sunday, March 29, following an executive committee meeting in Egypt.
According to Flashscore, Motsepe described it as part of CAF’s commitment to “world-class football” and encouraging the return of top African players from around the globe.
While the exact format for accommodating the four additional teams has not been disclosed, the CAF president stressed that the 2027 finals, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, would proceed as planned.
🚨 AFCON Expansion Alert! 🚨
— Micky Jnr (@MickyJnr__) March 29, 2026
CAF President Patrice Motsepe announces AFCON will expand to 28 teams with 7 groups of 4.
This means co-hosts Kenya, Uganda & Tanzania must speed up preparations, providing at least 2 stadiums each.
For perspective:
• Ivory Coast 2023: 6… pic.twitter.com/I7qZzmjgNk
He further confirmed that another AFCON tournament is scheduled for 2028, after which the continental showpiece will shift to a four-year cycle, similar to the World Cup and other major international competitions.
Why is CAF changing the AFCON format?
CAF’s announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny over its governance and officiating, following the controversial 2025 AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco. Senegal, who initially won 1-0 in extra time, were stripped of the title after walking off in protest of a late penalty awarded to Morocco.
The decision sparked outrage across the continent, with football stakeholders questioning CAF’s integrity and disciplinary processes.
Senegal has since appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a bid to reclaim the trophy, a case that continues to draw international attention.
In light of the fallout, Tribuba reports that Motsepe emphasised that the new changes to tournament statutes and regulations are intended to prevent a repeat of such incidents.
“We are committed to ensuring that African football operates at the highest standard of fairness and transparency,” Motsepe said.
A new era of AFCON begins
The expansion of AFCON to 28 teams by CAF signals a new era for African football, with more nations given the chance to compete on the continental stage.
CAF hopes the increased participation will boost competitive fixtures, elevate the tournament’s prestige, and attract top African players back to the continent.
A more structured calendar, creating opportunities for improved preparation and showcasing talent from emerging football nations, is also expected to be created with the new format.
Though details on how the expanded format will function remain scarce, the announcement represents a bold step by CAF to reshape the Africa Cup of Nations and strengthen its position as a leading global football body.
