By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The President of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, has announced that the Africa Cup of Nations will be expanded from 24 to 28 teams, in a move aimed at broadening participation and strengthening football development across the continent.
Motsepe made the announcement on Sunday, 29 March, 2026 during a press conference following an executive committee meeting, explaining that the decision reflects CAF’s commitment to elevating African football and creating more opportunities for players across the continent and in the diaspora to compete at the highest level.
He stated that the expansion aligns with the organisation’s vision of delivering top-quality competitions.
“It reflects our commitment to world-class football with the best African players from all over the world returning to compete on the continent,” Motsepe said.
However, the CAF President did not provide details on how the tournament format would be adjusted to accommodate the additional four teams or specify when the expansion would take effect.
The Africa Cup of Nations has undergone previous expansions, with the number of participating teams increased from 16 to 24 in 2019, a format that has been retained for the last four editions of the tournament.
Motsepe also confirmed that the 2027 edition of the tournament will proceed as scheduled, to be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
He further disclosed that another edition is planned for 2028, after which the competition will revert to a four-year cycle.
In addition, CAF is set to introduce a new continental competition, the Nations League, beginning in 2029.
According to Motsepe, the tournament will feature 16 teams, with a final competition to be held every two years.
Speaking on the broader strategy behind the reforms, Motsepe stressed the need for consistency and long-term planning in African football.
“We have to stop this thing of African fixtures not being predictable, consistent and reliable. We must develop football in East Africa, which is an area of much potential,” he said.
The latest expansion represents CAF’s continued efforts to increase the global relevance of its flagship tournament, while also providing a platform for emerging football nations to compete alongside established teams on the continental stage.
