The Africa Cup of Nations will expand to 28 teams from the 2027 tournament, after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) approved a major format change aimed at giving more national teams the opportunity to compete on the continent’s biggest football stage.
This story falls under Sports
Follow our WhatsApp channel for more interesting and relevant news
CAF Approves Expanded AFCON Format
CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe announced the decision while addressing the media in Johannesburg on Wednesday, saying the governing body had endorsed the expansion as part of its long-term vision to make African football more inclusive and competitive.
The change means the 2027 AFCON, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, will feature four more teams than the current 24-nation format.
The announcement comes months after CAF confirmed Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania as co-hosts of the 2027 tournament. Mahama Wants Queiroz to Stay as Black Stars Coach After Ghana’s World Cup Run
Under the revised structure, the 28 qualified nations will be drawn into seven groups of four teams.
The top two teams in each group will automatically qualify for the Round of 16, while the remaining two knockout places will go to the best two third-placed teams across all seven groups.
Why The Expansion Matters
The expansion is expected to improve the qualification prospects of several emerging football nations that have narrowly missed out on previous AFCON tournaments, giving more countries the chance to compete on Africa’s biggest football stage.
Countries such as Botswana, Malawi and South Sudan could benefit from the additional qualification places if they perform strongly during the qualifiers.
The move also builds on CAF’s decision to increase the tournament from 16 to 24 teams ahead of the 2019 edition in Egypt, reflecting the governing body’s continued efforts to broaden participation and strengthen African football.
The 2027 edition will also make history as the first AFCON to be hosted in East Africa, with Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania staging the continental showpiece.
Dr Motsepe reiterated CAF’s commitment to improving the quality, global profile and commercial value of African football as preparations continue for the expanded competition.
What’s Next
Attention will now turn to the qualification campaign, with the 2027 AFCON qualifiers expected to begin later this year as national teams battle for places in the first 28-team edition of the tournament.
Related reads
- 9 Coaches, 20 Years Of Change: Ghana’s Black Stars Timeline Before Carlos Queiroz
- Ibrahim Mahama takes first step towards building international standard stadium in Ghana
- How Ghana’s Panama Win Reunited a Divorced Couple After 4 Years Apart (Video)
Explore more
News | Business | Entertainment | Lifestyle | Sports
