The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has approved the expansion of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from 24 to 28 teams starting with the 2027 tournament to be hosted in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe confirmed the landmark decision during a media briefing in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
The CAF president said the expansion reflects the body’s vision to broaden participation and accelerate football development across the continent.
The 2027 AFCON, to be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, will make history as the first edition to feature 28 participating nations and the first ever staged in East Africa.
Under the revised competition format, the 28 qualified teams will be divided into seven groups of four.
The top two teams in each group, alongside the two best third-placed teams, will progress to the Round of 16 before the knockout rounds continue.
CAF believes the expansion will create more opportunities for emerging football nations to compete on Africa’s biggest stage while boosting the tournament’s competitiveness, commercial value, and global appeal.
The move follows the successful expansion from 16 to 24 teams, which was first introduced at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.
Since then, the tournament has produced more competitive fixtures and increased representation from across the continent.
Preparations are already underway for the 2027 finals, with CAF expected to launch the qualification campaign later this year.
The expanded tournament is also expected to provide more slots for African nations, raising hopes for increased participation from countries that have traditionally struggled to qualify for the continental showpiece.
