The Confederation of African Football has announced a major overhaul of its flagship competition, with the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) set to expand from 24 to 28 teams.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe disclosed the decision on Sunday following an executive committee meeting, describing it as part of the body’s commitment to elevating African football to global standards.

Motsepe said the expansion would create more opportunities for countries across the continent while ensuring that top African players worldwide return home to compete at the highest level.

“This is about our commitment to world-class football, bringing together the best African players from across the globe to compete on the continent,” he stated.

However, the CAF boss did not provide details on how the new 28-team format would be structured or when the expansion would take effect, leaving questions over qualification pathways and tournament scheduling.

Continuity for 2027, New Cycle from 2028

Motsepe confirmed that the 2027 AFCON will proceed as planned with co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, maintaining the current 24-team format for that edition.

In a significant shift, CAF also announced that another AFCON tournament will be staged in 2028, after which the competition will move to a four-year cycle—aligning more closely with other major international tournaments.

CAF Nations League Introduced

In addition to AFCON reforms, CAF revealed plans to introduce an African Nations League starting from 2029. The new competition will be held annually, with a 16-team final tournament staged every two years.

The initiative is aimed at improving the competitiveness, structure and commercial value of the African national team football.

“We have to stop this situation where African fixtures are not predictable, consistent and reliable,” Motsepe said. “We must also focus on developing football in regions like East Africa, which has enormous potential.”

A New Era for African Football

The proposed changes mark one of the most ambitious restructurings of African football competitions in recent years, with CAF seeking to expand participation, enhance organisation and create a more predictable football calendar.

While details are still emerging, the decisions are expected to have far-reaching implications for national teams, qualification formats and the overall growth of the game across the continent.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

By Kunle Solaja

The Confederation of African Football may be considering possible disciplinary measures against Senegal following reports that the country’s national team has continued to parade the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy despite being stripped of the title.

The development has triggered fresh debate within African football circles, with CAF understood to be treating the matter as a potential breach of its statutes and disciplinary code.

Sources close to the continental body indicate that Senegal’s actions could be interpreted as defiance of an official ruling, raising concerns about respect for regulatory authority and the precedent such conduct may set for other member associations.

CAF is believed to be weighing a range of sanctions, which could include financial penalties, formal reprimands, or restrictions on the country’s participation in certain CAF programmes and competitions.

While no final decision has been announced, insiders suggest that the governing body is keen to send a strong message on compliance and institutional discipline.

There are also indications that CAF’s disciplinary committee may be tasked with reviewing the circumstances surrounding the continued public display of the trophy, including whether the act constitutes misconduct under its regulations.

The issue is seen as more than a symbolic dispute over silverware. Analysts argue that how CAF handles the situation will reflect its ability to enforce decisions and maintain order among its 54 member associations.

“CAF cannot afford to appear weak on matters of discipline,” a source familiar with the situation said. “If a federation openly disregards a ruling, it undermines the entire governance structure.”

CAF is expected to provide clarity on the issue during an upcoming press engagement, where its president may outline the organisation’s position and any disciplinary steps to be taken.

For Senegal, the situation presents a delicate balancing act between national pride and compliance with continental football authority. For CAF, it represents a critical test of leadership and regulatory enforcement at a time when the credibility of African football governance remains under close watch.

The coming days are likely to determine whether the matter escalates into a full disciplinary case or is resolved through diplomatic engagement behind the scenes.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Senegal defiantly displayed the Africa Cup of Nations trophy to their supporters on Saturday before going on to beat Peru 2-0 in their World Cup warm-up game at the Stade de France.

Nicolas Jackson ​scored four minutes before halftime, and Ismaila Sarr added a second in the 54th as ‌Senegal won their first game since January’s Cup of Nations final, when they beat Morocco only to be stripped of the title this month.

The Confederation of African Football’s Appeal Board awarded Morocco the Cup of Nations title after Senegal had staged a 14-minute walk-off during the final in Rabat, a decision that Senegal is contesting at the Court of Arbitration ​for Sport.

An hour before kick off in Paris on Saturday, Senegal’s players and coach ⁠Pape Bouna Thiaw walked around the pitch with the trophy to a delirious reception from a near-capacity crowd ​as they continue to scoff at the CAF decision.

Thiaw had declared on Friday that “we know we’re African champions” ​and the team wore a newly designed strip featuring two stars above their badge, representing success in the Cup of Nations in 2021 and again this year.

Jackson had an easy put-away for the first goal after a storming run down the right wing ​by Senegal’s teenage starlet Ibrahima Mbaye, taking over the attacking mantle with Sadio Mane absent.

Sarr latched onto a ​ricocheted ball that fell perfectly into his path but had to power past two defenders before scoring the second goal.

There ‌was also ⁠a convincing win for the Ivory Coast as they hammered South Korea 4-0 at Stadium MK, north of London, on Saturday.

Like Senegal, the Ivorians are among the nine African countries that will compete at the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the U.S starting in June.

Evann Guessand scored the first goal in the 35th ​minute after being set up ​by debutant Martial Godo, ⁠who then scored the third himself from a rebound at a corner after 62 minutes.

In between, Simon Adingra announced his return to the team with a rasping shot ​on the stroke of halftime to make it 2-0.

He had been omitted from ​the squad for ⁠the Cup of Nations in Morocco at the turn of the year, where the Ivorians were defending their title but went out in the quarter-finals.

Defender Wilfried Singo, another player back in the squad, side-footed the fourth goal with the ⁠last ​kick of the game.

The Ivorians next face Scotland at Everton’s Hill ​Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, while Senegal head home to play neighbours Gambia in Dakar on Tuesday, where they are expected to again brandish ​the golden trophy in front of their home support.

Reuters

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H