CAF confirms 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will retain 24-team format

The 2027 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations will feature 24 national teams as originally planned, the Confederation of African Football has confirmed, moving to end speculation over a possible change to the tournament structure.

CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe used a press conference on Wednesday to dismiss reports in sections of the media suggesting the format could be altered. He stated that the 2027 edition will “indeed” bring together 24 sides, underlining the organisation’s intention to keep the competition broadly representative of the continent.

The governing body said recent claims about a reduction or modification in the number of participating teams were incorrect and stressed that no changes had been made to the established format of its flagship event.

By restating its position, CAF aims to provide clarity to national associations and restore certainty after days of speculation. Officials believe the confirmation will allow federations to plan with a clear understanding of the sporting stakes and qualification pathway.

CAF maintains that retaining 24 participants ensures that a wide range of countries can compete on the biggest stage in African football, preserving both the prestige of the tournament and its role in showcasing the breadth of talent across the continent.

Summer 2027 finals and qualification timetable

CAF also set out the broad calendar for the 2027 competition, confirming that the final tournament will be staged in the northern hemisphere summer, with matches to be played in June and July 2027.

The qualification campaign is scheduled to begin shortly before the finals year. The opening rounds of the qualifiers are to be held in the FIFA international windows of September and October 2026, with further details of the full schedule to be announced in due course.

The latest communication from CAF is intended to draw a line under what it described as media confusion around both the format and timing of the event, while reaffirming its commitment to a stable and predictable structure for one of world football’s major international tournaments.