The Africa Cup of Nations could soon expand from 24 to 28 teams, following an announcement by Patrice Motsepe, signalling a strategic shift aimed at broadening participation and elevating the continent’s football ecosystem.
The proposal, unveiled after a Confederation of African Football executive meeting on Sunday, March 29, reflects a renewed ambition to enhance competitiveness and attract top African talent back to continental tournaments. However, operational details, including the tournament format and implementation timeline, remain undefined.
The expansion builds on earlier reforms, notably the increase from 16 to 24 teams introduced in 2019, marking a continued trajectory towards inclusivity and commercial growth within African football.
Looking ahead, the 2027 edition of AFCON is expected to proceed as planned across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Organizers also indicated that a subsequent tournament will take place in 2028, after which the competition will transition to a four-year cycle.
In parallel, Confederation of African Football is preparing to introduce a Nations League from 2029, featuring annual fixtures and a 16-team finals tournament every two years—an initiative designed to bring structure, consistency and long-term commercial viability to African football.