The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the expansion of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from 24 to 28 participating teams, beginning with the 2027 edition.
CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe confirmed the decision during a press conference in South Africa on Wednesday, explaining that the move is part of efforts to create more opportunities for African countries to compete at the continent’s biggest football tournament.
The 2027 AFCON, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, will mark the first edition under the new format and is scheduled to take place from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
The tournament has featured 24 teams since the 2019 edition in Egypt, but CAF has now introduced four additional qualification slots as it seeks to expand the reach and development of football across Africa.
Dr Motsepe said CAF remains focused on improving the quality of its competitions while ensuring that more nations have the chance to participate and showcase their talent on the continental stage.
He also revealed that AFCON will return in 2028 before the competition moves to a four-year cycle going forward.
