Rwanda’s chances of reaching the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) have received a major boost after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) increased the number of teams participating in the finals from 24 to 28.
CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe announced the expansion during a press conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, saying the decision was aimed at making the continental showpiece more inclusive and competitive.
The 2027 AFCON, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, will feature more nations than previous editions, giving teams such as Rwanda’s Amavubi an improved opportunity to qualify for the tournament for the first time since their last appearance in 2004.
Under the revised qualification format, the top two teams from each qualifying group will continue to secure automatic qualification, while four of the best-performing third-placed teams will also advance to the finals.
Rwanda is in Group K alongside Mali, Cape Verde and Liberia. Under the previous format, Amavubi needed to finish among the top two teams in the group, but the expanded tournament means a strong third-place finish could now also be enough to secure a place at AFCON.
Amavubi will begin their qualification campaign on September 23, 2026, when they host Liberia at Amahoro Stadium.
CAF is yet to confirm the final format of the expanded 28-team tournament, although it is expected that adjustments will be made to the group stage structure to accommodate the additional teams.
Rwanda last featured at AFCON in 2004, when the national team made its debut at the continental finals in Tunisia. The increased number of finalists provides Amavubi with a renewed opportunity to return to Africa’s biggest football stage.
