AFCON 2025 Squads Expanded to 28

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has formally confirmed that all participating nations in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will be permitted to register an expanded final squad of twenty-eight players. This decision marks a change from the traditional roster size for the continental tournament.

According to CAF, the expansion is a strategic move designed to help national teams manage several challenges inherent in a major competition. The larger list will assist teams in better handling potential player injuries, managing workload, and addressing any health-related concerns that might arise during the month-long event.

The continent’s soccer governing body also released details regarding the size of the technical and support staff allowed for each participating national team.

CAF stated that each team can now include up to seventeen members of technical staff for the duration of the competition.

This move is intended to ensure that all national teams have adequate support across key operational areas. The seventeen personnel are expected to cover essential roles such as coaching, medical support, logistics, and performance analysis.

The twenty-four teams that have qualified for the tournament have been given a firm deadline to finalize and submit their extended twenty-eight-man rosters. Teams are expected to submit their final squad lists by December 11 of the preceding year.

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is scheduled to be hosted by Morocco. The tournament is set to run from December 18, 2025, through to the final on January 18, 2026.