CAF dismisses reports of AFCON 2027 format change

What the report says

The Punch reported that the Confederation of African Football has rejected suggestions that the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be played under a different tournament format. According to the report, CAF said the competition will continue with 24 participating national teams, countering media claims that a change was being considered or had been agreed.

The clarification was attributed to CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, who addressed the issue at a press conference on Wednesday. CAF later reinforced the position in a post on its X account on Thursday, saying reports indicating a different number of teams were not accurate. The Punch reported that CAF stressed no decision had been made to alter the size of the tournament.

The 2027 edition of AFCON is scheduled for June and July 2027, with the qualifying phase expected to start in September or October 2026. The tournament is due to be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, making preparations across the three East African countries a central part of the build-up.

The confirmation matters because the number of teams affects qualification planning, match scheduling, hosting logistics and expectations for national federations. As background, AFCON has expanded over time as CAF has sought to increase continental participation, but The Punch’s report indicates that the 2027 event will remain aligned with the current 24-team model rather than moving to a revised structure.