AFCON 2019 to feature 24 teams as CAF adopts format

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has adopted the resolution to expand African Cup of Nations from 16 to 24 teams with the new format set to be effected during the immediate 2019 edition.

The CAF Executive Committee passed the contentious resolution on Thursday in a long meeting held at Hotel Sofitel in Rabat, Morocco, announcing a shift from the 16 teams that have been competing in the biennial showpiece since 1996.

The development means the format of the ongoing qualifiers for 2019 will be restructured to allow more teams .

At the time of publishing this account, it was not clear how CAF will execute the changes in the qualifiers.

This was one of the major proposals at the high cadre CAF symposium that ended on Wednesday.

The final decision on other closely related resolutions to increase of teams, including inviting three non African nations in every edition will be announced on Friday during the Extraordinary Congress.

Meanwhile, Morocco is reported to have committed to hosting the 2019 event should Cameroon fail to cope with the burden of the expanded tournament.

The West African country that will be defending the title won in January will has recently been under pressure with critics doubting her preparedness for AFCON even before today’s development.

-More to follow…

-Jacob Icia is reporting from Rabat, Morocco.