The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a series of far-reaching reforms aimed at expanding the continent’s flagship tournament and strengthening football development across the region.
Speaking on Wednesday, CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe confirmed that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will expand from 24 to 28 teams beginning with the 2027 edition, while the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will offer a record $2m prize to its eventual champions.
The announcements formed part of a wide-ranging address in which Dr Motsepe set out CAF’s priorities for the coming years, touching on football governance, infrastructure, youth development and Africa’s ambitions on the global stage.
World Cup Review and 2030 Ambitions
Dr Motsepe confirmed that CAF will convene a technical conference to assess Africa’s performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the findings expected to shape preparations for the 2030 tournament. The review comes on the back of a campaign that CAF’s leadership believes brought the continent closer than ever to a first world title.
Our clear objective, and we are now more confident than ever after the FIFA World Cup, is to see an African country become world champions. I am more convinced than ever that this can indeed happen. We have a clear expectation that, until we have that trophy on the African continent, we will keep pushing. You can see that we came very close.” Dr Patrice Motsepe, CAF President
Beyond the World Cup review, Dr Motsepe outlined a broader investment programme intended to strengthen the game at every level of the football pyramid. This includes increased funding directed at national teams and leagues alongside youth and grassroots structures, expanded support for coach education across all six CAF zones, and continued growth of the African Schools Football Championship.
Infrastructure also featured prominently in the address. CAF intends to deepen partnerships with governments and private sector stakeholders to improve football facilities across member associations, with an explicit expectation that every national association will eventually possess a CAF and FIFA-approved stadium capable of hosting international matches.
Women’s AFCON Prize Money Triples
In a significant boost for the women’s game, Dr Motsepe confirmed that the winners of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will collect $2m, a record figure for the competition. The total prize pool for the tournament will rise to $5.8m, with every participating team guaranteed $150,000 regardless of how far they progress.
AFCON Expansion and Future Hosting Rights
On the men’s competition, CAF confirmed that preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, remain on track. From that edition onward, the tournament will expand from 24 to 28 participating teams, marking one of the most significant structural changes to AFCON in recent years.
CAF has also formally opened the bidding process for hosting rights to the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions of the tournament, alongside the process for awarding the commercial rights attached to those three tournaments.
Next Steps
Dr Motsepe confirmed that the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly will be held on 21 November 2026 in Abuja, Nigeria, where member associations are expected to further deliberate on the reforms outlined in Wednesday’s address.
Key Numbers.
28 teams – new AFCON format from 2027, up from 24
$2m – prize for the 2026 Women’s AFCON champions (record)
$5.8m – total Women’s AFCON 2026 prize pool
$150,000 – guaranteed payment to each participating team
2027 AFCON – co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda
2028, 2032, 2036 – AFCON hosting and commercial rights bidding now open
21 November 2026 – 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly, Abuja, Nigeria