CAF Expands AFCON To 28 Teams Ahead Of 2027 Edition

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By Sportsgister

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a major expansion of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with the tournament set to feature 28 teams from the 2027 edition.

CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe confirmed the landmark decision while addressing the media in Johannesburg on Wednesday, describing the move as part of the governing body’s commitment to broadening participation and creating more opportunities for national teams across Africa.

The expanded format will debut at the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania the first time the continent’s premier football competition will be staged in East Africa.

Under the new structure, the 28 qualified nations will be drawn into seven groups of four teams during the group stage.

The top two teams from each group will automatically qualify for the knockout phase, while the two best third-placed teams will complete the Round of 16, ensuring a more competitive race for qualification.

The expansion marks another significant milestone in the evolution of the tournament, following CAF’s decision to increase the number of participating teams from 16 to 24 ahead of the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.

According to CAF, the new format is designed to improve competitiveness, encourage the development of football across the continent, and provide more nations with the opportunity to compete on Africa’s biggest football stage.

Dr Motsepe also reiterated CAF’s determination to continue raising the standard, commercial appeal, and global profile of African football, adding that preparations for the historic 2027 tournament are already underway.

Qualifiers for the expanded competition are expected to begin later this year as African nations battle for a place at what promises to be the biggest AFCON tournament in history.