In one of the most monumental structural shifts in African sports history, Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has officially announced that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will expand from 24 to 28 participating teams, beginning with the 2027 edition co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The decision marks the second major tournament expansion in less than a decade (following the shift from 16 to 24 teams in 2019). With 28 spots up for grabs across CAF's 54 member associations, more than half of the entire continent will now compete on Africa's biggest football stage.
Here is your ultimate upgraded breakdown on why CAF made this decision, how the new 28-team format works, and what it means for the future of African football.
Why Is Patrice Motsepe Expanding AFCON to 28 Teams?
CAF's decision to add four more nations stems from a broader strategic plan to elevate football across every region of Africa:
Broadening Continental Inclusion
With 54 voting member nations in CAF, the 24-team limit routinely left out rapidly developing footballing nations who lost out on goal-difference or minor qualifier details. Moving to 28 teams ensures smaller and emerging nations get a realistic pathway to elite continental competition.
Capitalizing on World Cup Expansion Momentum
Following FIFA's expansion of the 2026 World Cup to 48 teams (which saw 10 African nations participate), CAF is aligning its flagship tournament to mirror international growth.
Boosting Commercial & Broadcasting Value
More participating teams mean more matches, larger regional TV audiences, expanded sponsorship inventories, and greater gate revenue across the three host nations.
Patrice Motsepe on the expansion: "We have increased the number of participants in the next edition of AFCON... The move reflects CAF's commitment to growing football across every corner of our continent and showcasing more African talent on the global stage."
How the New 28-Team Format Works
Expanding from 24 to 28 teams changes the math of the tournament structure. Here is how the competition will flow from group play to the final:
Group Phase (7 Groups of 4): Teams are divided into Groups A through G.
Automatic Advancement (14 Teams): The top two nations from each of the seven groups advance directly to the Round of 16.
Wildcard Spots (2 Teams): Unlike the previous format (which saw four 3rd-placed teams advance), only the top TWO best 3rd-placed teams across all seven groups will make the knockout phase. This raises the stakes in group play, ensuring third-place teams must win matches rather than relying on draws.
The 2027 AFCON Qualification Roadmap
CAF has officially locked in the international match windows for the AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign:
Additional Major Announcements by CAF
Alongside the 28-team AFCON expansion, Patrice Motsepe unveiled several other groundbreaking changes for African football:
Women's AFCON (WAFCON) Prize Pool Skyrockets: Prize money for the Women's AFCON has increased by 67% to $5.8 million, with the champions taking home $2.0 million (a 100% increase).
Shift to 4-Year AFCON Cycle: CAF reaffirmed plans to transition the Men's AFCON to a four-year cycle post-2028 to reduce friction with European club calendars and improve player welfare.
Expanding AFCON to 28 teams is a bold, ambitious play by Patrice Motsepe and CAF. By bringing more nations into the fold, upgrading prize money, and expanding host hosting rights across East Africa, CAF is laying the groundwork for a massive 2027 tournament.
