AFCON set to increase number of teams, timing to be changed

Tthe Confederation of African Football’s executive committee is expected to approve recommendations for the African Nations Cup finals to be expanded to 24 teams and be held after every two years in June and July.

Nigerian Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick who is also a Caf executive committee member hailed the recommendation and said that it has potential to increase revenue for Caf and more infrastructure development. The tournament will not be cut to once every four years as in Europe because its revenue remains a cornerstone of Caf’s income.

The symposium also recommended much stricter standards on the selection of hosts for the finals and said future hosts would have to prove they had the necessary infrastructure, particularly high-quality pitches and hotels for teams.