What does the expansion of the Africa Cup of Nations mean

The Africa Cup of Nations will feature 28 teams for the first time from the 2027 edition after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) approved an expansion of the tournament.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe announced the decision on Wednesday, saying the move is designed to give more nations the opportunity to compete at Africa’s biggest football tournament while strengthening competition across the continent.

This means four more teams will join the finals

The 2027 AFCON, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, is scheduled to take place from 19 June to 17 July.

The tournament has featured 24 teams since the 2019 edition in Egypt, but CAF has now approved the addition of four more nations, taking the total number of finalists to 28.

According to Motsepe, the expansion reflects the governing body’s commitment to developing football across Africa by providing more countries with the chance to compete on the continental stage.

CAF targets stronger continental competition

Motsepe said the expanded format forms part of CAF’s broader strategy to improve its competitions and increase opportunities for member associations.

He explained that the decision is intended to raise the standard of African football by widening participation and encouraging greater competitiveness among national teams.

The CAF president also confirmed that after the 2027 tournament, the Africa Cup of Nations will be staged again in 2028, before transitioning to a four-year cycle thereafter.