The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will make history as the biggest edition of the continental championship yet after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) approved an expansion from 24 to 28 participating nations.
CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe confirmed the landmark decision while addressing the media in Johannesburg on Wednesday, revealing that Africa’s premier football tournament will adopt the enlarged format beginning with the 2027 finals.
The expansion forms part of CAF’s broader vision to widen access to elite continental competition, allowing more national teams the opportunity to compete on Africa’s grandest football stage.
The 2027 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, will therefore become the first edition to feature 28 teams, adding four more participants to the current format introduced in 2019.
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Under the revised competition structure, the 28 qualified nations will be drawn into seven groups of four teams. At the end of the group phase, the top two sides from each pool will qualify automatically for the knockout rounds, while the two highest-ranked third-placed teams across all groups will complete the Round of 16 lineup.
The latest expansion marks another significant evolution of the tournament after CAF increased the field from 16 to 24 teams ahead of the 2019 finals in Egypt—a move that has since broadened the competition’s reach across the continent.
CAF believes the enlarged format will not only create more opportunities for emerging football nations but also elevate the quality, competitiveness, and commercial appeal of the tournament as African football continues its rapid growth on the global stage.
The 2027 finals will also be historic for another reason, becoming the first Africa Cup of Nations to be staged in East Africa, with Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania jointly welcoming the continent’s biggest football spectacle.
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Dr Motsepe also reiterated CAF’s determination to continue strengthening the profile of African football by improving the standard of its competitions, increasing commercial investment, and enhancing the global visibility of the game.
Attention will now turn to the qualification campaign, with the road to the expanded 2027 Africa Cup of Nations expected to begin later this year.
