President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has disclosed plans to expand the Africa Cup of Nations to 28 teams, a move aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the continental tournament.
Currently, the continental showpiece features 24 countries, with Senegal emerging as champions in the recently concluded tournament in Morocco.
At a press conference in Tanzania, Motsepe disclosed plans to expand the teams from 24 to 28 in a tournament that would be held every four years.
“The AFCON as we know it now is one of Africa’s most important sporting events,” Motsepe said. “We want to increase it to 28 countries, and, as we have said, hold it every four years. This will allow more nations to compete at the highest level, showcase their talent, and contribute to the growth of African football.”
Motsepe highlighted that the expansion is part of CAF’s broader vision to modernize African football, improve the tournament’s competitiveness, and enhance its global appeal. By including more teams, CAF hopes to give smaller footballing nations a platform to compete alongside Africa’s traditional powerhouses, fostering talent development and increasing fan engagement across the continent.
The CAF president also noted that the four-year cycle would allow national teams more time to prepare for the tournament, improve their squads, and build competitive consistency.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Sylvester Ntim
