The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has put an end to the recent controversy surrounding the possibility of increasing the number of teams participating in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, following media reports suggesting the number could be raised to 28 teams.
CAF confirmed through its official platforms that the president of the federation, Patrice Motsepe, clarified during a press conference that the next edition of the tournament will be held with the participation of only 24 teams, denying the validity of the news that spoke of changing the participation system.
The continental federation explained that the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, will take place during June and July, while the qualifying rounds for the tournament will begin during September and October 2026.
This clarification comes after reports suggested the possibility of expanding the tournament to 28 teams, which CAF officially denied.
The Africa Cup of Nations witnessed the largest expansion in its history starting with the 2019 edition in Egypt, when the number of participating teams increased from 16 to 24 teams, a system that continued in the 2021, 2023 and 2025 editions, and will continue to be used in the 2027 edition.
