CAF expands AFCON Participation, dump old Calendar

The highest football governing body in Africa, the CAF Executive Committee has passed a resolution to increase the number of participating teams in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) from 16 to 24.

The expansion will take effect from 2019 when Cameroon hosts the African Nations Cup.

Earlier this week, the 55 members of the committee met in Rabat, Morocco to discuss the growth of African football and the possibility of expanding the tournament as well as changing the timing and scheduling of the showpiece competition.

Ahmad Ahmad, CAF president, hinted on Wednesday that some of the discussion at the symposium could be implemented within days and this is the first of many major changes expected to take place in the continent’s football.

The increase of the slots has so far received mixed reactions from the football community and is said to be aimed at crafting new and innovative ways of making the competition more attractive.