CAF Rejects Proposal to Expand Africa Cup of Nations to 28 Teams
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially rejected a proposal to expand the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from 24 to 28 teams. The expansion plan, which was championed by CAF President Patrice Motsepe during a press conference in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, in February, was aimed at implementing the changes in time for the 2028 tournament. However, following deliberations within the federation's executive committee, the governing body decided to maintain the current 24-team format to protect the quality and competitive integrity of Africa's premier sporting event.
Opponents of the expansion within CAF's leadership raised significant concerns regarding the logistical and financial strain the move would place on prospective host nations. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a CAF executive committee member described the proposal as a "very bad idea." Critics pointed out that only a select few African nations currently possess the stadium infrastructure, transport networks, and hospitality capacity required to successfully host a 24-team tournament. Pushing the number to 28 would drastically limit the pool of eligible host countries, effectively excluding smaller nations from bidding.
The decision also reflects CAF’s stated objective to elevate the tournament to a "world-class" standard. Having previously expanded the tournament from 16 to 24 teams ahead of the 2019 edition in Egypt, football officials and analysts have warned that a further increase could dilute the quality of play during the group stages. Additionally, keeping the tournament at 24 teams helps mitigate mounting friction with elite European clubs, who frequently express frustration over losing key African players mid-season—a scheduling tension that would only be exacerbated by a longer, larger tournament.
With the expansion off the table, CAF will focus its organizational efforts on optimizing the upcoming 2025 edition in Morocco and the 2027 tournament, which is set to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. By cementing the 24-team format, the federation hopes to strike a sustainable balance between continental inclusivity and high-caliber competition, ensuring that the Africa Cup of Nations remains one of the most prestigious and fiercely contested tournaments on the global stage.