The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has rejected reports suggesting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) format will be altered, confirming the tournament will retain its 24-team structure.
CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe made the clarification at a press conference on Wednesday, confirming that the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2027 will feature 24 national teams. In a statement on its official X account on Thursday, CAF described media reports of a format change as untrue, adding that AFCON 2027 will be played in June-July 2027, with qualifiers starting in September/October 2026.
The continental body stressed that no decision has been taken to expand or reduce the number of participating teams, putting an end to speculation over a possible change. The 2027 tournament will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda — the first time the three East African nations will co-host the competition.
With the clarification issued, participating nations can now focus on preparations for qualifiers under the existing 24-team format as the countdown to AFCON 2027 continues.
