The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced plans to expand the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from 24 to 28 teams.

The revelation was made following an Executive Committee meeting held in Cairo.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe said during a press conference that the decision is part of efforts to grow the game across the continent.

“We want to increase it to 28 countries… This will allow more nations to compete, showcase their talent, and contribute to the growth of African football,” he said.

However, the exact format of the expanded tournament has not yet been outlined, and it remains unclear when the new structure will take effect.

The next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will still be played under the existing 24-team format.

The tournament is scheduled to take place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda between June and July 2027 with group stage qualifiers to begin in August/September.

Meanwhile, the Black Stars, who are four-time champions, failed to qualify for the most recent edition in Morocco and have not lifted the trophy since 1982.