The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has rejected a proposal to expand the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) from 24 to 28 participating teams.

The proposal was initially presented by CAF President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe during a press conference in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in February.

The proposed expansion was expected to take effect from the 2028 edition of the tournament If approved.

However, members of CAF’s Executive Committee voted against the plan during deliberations, effectively shelving the proposal.

Speaking anonymously, one Executive Committee member disclosed that the idea was overwhelmingly rejected through a round-robin vote, describing the expansion as unnecessary and questioning the reasons behind its introduction.

Another committee member also claimed that the proposal was brought forward without prior consultation with the Executive Committee before being presented for discussion.

Despite the rejection, CAF has maintained that discussions on the ways to improve Africa’s flagship football competition are still ongoing, leaving the door open for future reforms to the tournament’s structure.

-9News Nigeria.