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.

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The Confederation of African Football said it would implement changes and improvements to its statutes and regulations that would ensure that the farcical ​scenes at January’s Africa Cup of Nations final do not happen again.

CAF ‌president Patrice Motsepe said the changes would strengthen trust and confidence in its referees, VAR operators and judicial bodies, but did not give concrete details.

The announcement followed a meeting of CAF’s executive committee ​in Cairo on Sunday and came on a tumultuous day for the organisation ​as its general secretary resigned.

African football’s governing body has been battling ⁠a crisis of confidence after its Appeal Board stripped Senegal of the Cup of Nations ​title in a decision that has been met with widespread derision.

Senegal were ruled to have ​forfeited the final in Rabat on January 18 after walking off the pitch in protest at a potentially decisive penalty awarded to Morocco. They returned and scored a goal in extra time to ​win the game 1-0.

The decision is being challenged at the Court of Arbitration for Sport ​and if Senegal win back their title it will be a further blow to CAF’s credibility.

“CAF has ‌taken ⁠extensive legal advice from top African and international football lawyers and experts, to ensure that the CAF statutes and regulations adhere to and implement global football best practices, on and off the field,” Motsepe said in a statement on Sunday.

“This is important for the ​respect, integrity and credibility ​of African referees, ⁠VAR operators and the CAF Disciplinary Board and Appeal Board.

“CAF is working with FIFA for the ongoing training of African referees, VAR ​operators and match commissioners so that they are as good ​as the ⁠best in the world… CAF has made significant progress over the past five years in implementing governance, ethics, transparency and managerial best practices,” the CAF president added.

More precise details on the ⁠changes ​and how they would avoid a repeat of the ​Cup of Nations final controversy were not given by Motsepe, who earlier this month admitted his organisation was struggling ​with perceptions about its integrity.

-Reuters

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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

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