The Confederation of African Football (CAF), led by president Patrice Motsepe, has announced a major overhaul of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), introducing changes aimed at boosting the competition’s global appeal and competitiveness. The headline reform is the expansion of the tournament from 24 to 28 teams, continuing CAF’s recent push to give more nations the opportunity to compete at the highest level on the continent.
Under the proposed structure, the 28 teams are expected to be divided into seven groups of four, with the top two teams in each group advancing automatically to the knockout stage. However, CAF is yet to fully clarify how the remaining places in the round of 16 will be determined, meaning some details of the competition format are still being finalized.
CAF has also confirmed a significant shift in the tournament calendar. AFCON will move away from its current two-year cycle and instead be played every four years. A transition plan will see the 2027 edition go ahead as scheduled, followed by a special tournament in 2028, before the new four-year cycle officially begins from 2029.
To ensure national teams remain active and competitive between AFCON tournaments, CAF will introduce a new Nations League-style competition. This tournament is expected to run annually, with a larger finals event staged every two years, providing additional opportunities for African teams to compete and develop on the international stage.
