CAF rejects plan to expand Africa Cup of Nations from 24 to 28 countries
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has turned down a proposition to enlarge the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from 24 to 28 participating teams, according to reports from the Guardian UK. This initiative was initially presented by Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football, during a press conference held in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, in February. If it had gained approval, the enlargement would have been implemented for the 2028 competition.
Two members of the CAF executive committee, who requested anonymity, verified that the proposition was defeated in a vote.
One committee member said: “We took a round-robin vote and the proposal was soundly rejected. It was a very bad idea. I do not know why Motsepe proposed it in the first place. There is absolutely no reason for it.”
Another committee member indicated that Motsepe had advanced the suggestion without prior consultation with the committee. Luxolo September, who serves as CAF’s communications director, informed the Guardian that the effort to enlarge AFCON represented merely “one aspect” of a wider discussion focused on enhancing the competition.
“For the last two years or so, Caf leadership has been discussing both in person and through written communication the implementation of the vision of making Caf competitions, in particular, the Caf Africa Cup of Nations, world-class,” September said.
“The debate and discussion is not limited to one aspect. The conversation on the Caf Africa Cup of Nations format is an ongoing discussion within Caf.”
The upcoming iteration of the competition, slated for June-July 2027, is set to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. CAF has confirmed that proposals to host the 2028 competition have already been received from Ethiopia, Morocco, and a collaborative bid from Botswana and <a href="https://absafricatv.com/south-africa-thousands-march-against-illegal-immigration-across-south-africa/" title="South Africa: Thousands March Against Illegal Immigration Across South Africa”>South Africa.
“Caf recently launched the bidding process for hosting rights,” September said. “Caf leadership is united behind one vision: making African football amongst the best in the world.”
