CAF expands AFCON to 28 teams and confirms 2027 tournament in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda
Latest news on WhatsApp أجدد الأخبار على واتساب
CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced on Sunday that the Africa Cup of Nations will expand from 24 to 28 teams, signaling a new push to widen participation across the continent and give more national sides access to Africa’s biggest football stage. He also confirmed that the 2027 edition will go ahead in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda as planned.
Motsepe said another tournament will be held in 2028 before AFCON later shifts to a four-year cycle as part of a broader calendar reset for African football. He also said the confederation plans to launch an African Nations League from 2029, in a move aimed at keeping continental competition active while broadening football development beyond the traditional power centres.
CAF has not yet released the full competition format for a 28-team finals, including group structure or the exact implementation roadmap, which leaves several operational questions still unresolved despite the headline announcement.
The decision also comes at a sensitive time for African football governance, with CAF simultaneously moving to revise parts of its regulations after the controversy surrounding the most recent AFCON final.
