CAF unveils new plans for the Africa Cup of Nations

Confederation of African Football chief Patrice Motsepe plans 28-team AFCON and four-year cycle after 2028.

The president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, said on Friday that the number of teams participating in the Africa Cup of Nations finals could rise to 28 teams, and confirmed that the tournament will be held every four years in the future.

Motsepe told a news conference in Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania, that there are plans to increase the number of teams participating in the finals to 28, without specifying a date for the change.

Twenty-four teams participated in the finals in the last four editions of the continental championship, after increasing it from 16 teams.

The 24 participating teams were divided into 6 groups of 4 teams each, but Motsepe did not explain how four more teams would be accommodated in the tournament in the future.

CAF comprises 54 national federations, so the participation of 28 teams will constitute more than half of the members.

However, Motsepe reiterated that the Africa Cup of Nations will be held every four years after 2028, a decision that sparked much criticism when it was first announced last December, given that the tournament has been held every two years since 1968.

On the other hand, Motsepe denied media reports that the 2027 finals would be moved from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, which are scheduled to host the next Africa Cup of Nations, due to concerns that the infrastructure in the three East African countries would not be ready in time.

Motsepe said: "CAF and African football will achieve tremendous success this year and in the coming years. We believe that Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will deliver a good tournament next year."

The CAF president stated that African football was embarrassed by the incidents that marred the 2025 final, where the Senegalese team left the field after a penalty kick was awarded against the team.

Motsepe told reporters: "I am deeply disappointed by the unacceptable events that occurred during the final match."

He added: "We will amend CAF's statutes and disciplinary rules to ensure that our judicial bodies have the authority to impose sanctions that reflect the seriousness of such behavior."