CAF announces AFCON changes as Banyana learn WAFCON 2026 host country

Bafana Bafana will feature in a 28-team Africa Cup of Nations starting next year after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed the changes.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced that AFCON will now be expanded to 28 teams starting from next year’s tournament in East Africa, up from 24, as it has been in the last two editions in 2023 and 2025.

That means there will be seven groups of four teams each, opening the door for more teams to qualify but it is more work for host nations Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania which will stage AFCON 2027.

Motsepe insists AFCON 2027 won’t be moved

CAF President Patrice Motsepe in a presser

There have been doubts over whether the three East African nations will be ready amid reports of slow progress in stadium construction and upgrade, training facilities as well as concerns regarding accommodation standards in one of the host towns in Uganda.

However, Motsepe has insisted the tournament will not be moved elsewhere after some unverified reports claimed South Africa could be one of the alternative host countries.

“We have to stop this thing of ‌African fixtures not being predictable, consistent and reliable. We must develop football in East Africa, which is an area of much ⁠potential,” Motsepe ⁠said as quoted by Flashscore.

CAF boss confirms WAFCON 2026 hosts

Jermaine Seoposenwe, Banyana Banyana — Image – SAFA Media

Meanwhile, Motsepe finally ended speculation regarding which country will host the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON 2026) which has since been moved to July 25-August 16 from its initial date of March 17 to April 3.

“There were circumstances that we had not foreseen,” Motsepe said after being pressed for the reasons for the postponement with the tournament confirmed for Morocco as it had been planned earlier before reports of a pull out from the North African nation emerged.

Banyana Banyana can now prepare knowing that they will play in Morocco for a third successive tournament, having won their first and only title in 2022 in the same country before finishing fourth at the delayed WAFCON 2024 last year.