The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has approved the expansion of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from 24 to 28 teams, with the new format set to debut at the 2027 tournament.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced the decision during a media briefing in Johannesburg on Wednesday, saying the expansion is intended to provide more African nations with the opportunity to compete in the continent’s flagship football tournament.
The 2027 AFCON will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, marking the first time the East African trio will stage the competition. The tournament is scheduled to run from June 19 to July 17, 2027, with qualifying matches expected to begin later this year.
Under the revised format, the 28 qualified teams will be drawn into seven groups of four. The top two teams in each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will progress to the Round of 16.
The latest expansion represents the second major increase in the tournament’s history after CAF raised the number of participating teams from 16 to 24 for the 2019 edition in Egypt.
Motsepe said the governing body remains focused on improving the quality, commercial value and global appeal of African football, adding that the additional places will enable more countries to showcase their talent on the continental stage.
