Major changes to the Africa Cup of Nations following controversy.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a major overhaul plan for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), notably increasing the number of participating teams to 28 in future editions.

The Africa Cup of Nations could expand to 28 teams.

Speaking in Cairo, President Patrice Motsepe said the move demonstrates a commitment to elevating the league and bringing together the best African players from around the world to play for the continent. However, the specific timing and timeline for implementing the changes have not yet been announced.

This isn't the first time AFCON has adjusted its format. Previously, the tournament increased from 16 to 24 teams starting in 2019. In the near future, the tournament will also change its cycle from every two years to every four years, similar to the Euro and World Cup models. According to the plan, AFCON 2027 will proceed as normal, before a special edition in 2028 ushers in a new phase.

Not stopping there, CAF also plans to launch a brand-new annual tournament, inspired by the UEFA Nations League. This tournament will feature matches held annually, with a final round of 16 teams held every two years to increase competitiveness and commercial value.

These changes emerged amidst intense controversy surrounding AFCON 2025. The final match between Senegal and Morocco became a farce when Senegal left the field in protest against an unfavorable penalty decision. Although they later returned and won, Morocco appealed, claiming their opponent violated the rules by abandoning play.

CAF subsequently accepted the lawsuit and declared Morocco the champion, nearly two months after the match. Senegal appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and publicly celebrated their victory in Paris as a protest against the controversial decision.

An unbelievable miss in Senegal's match: Alex Valera failed to score despite having an empty net in front of him as Peru lost 0-2 to Senegal in a friendly match on March 28.

Source: https://znews.vn/thay-doi-lon-o-cup-chau-phi-sau-tranh-cai-post1639147.html