CAF expands squad list to 28, Federations face new selection gamble

By Maxwell Kumoye 

  

The race to AFCON 2025 just got hotter and trickier, as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially approved an expanded 28-man squad list, a major shift from the traditional 23.

The decision, announced on Tuesday, gives national teams more depth and tactical security for the expanded tournament. But there’s a catch.

CAF will fully bankroll travel, accommodation, and logistics for only 23 players, leaving national football federations to decide whether the extra five slots are worth the added cost. For nations battling financial constraints, it’s now a strategic choice: pay more for squad flexibility or stick to the basics.

Teams will also be allowed 17 backroom staff members, covering technical, medical, and administrative roles, a move expected to streamline operations and ensure peak performance standards.

With coaches eager for competition-ready squads and federations weighing the financial implications, AFCON 2025 is already delivering drama long before the first whistle.

As Mishael Emmanuel and other continental analysts have observed, the new rule throws open the tactical playbook but only for those ready to pay the price.

AFCON 2025 just became a tournament where planning off the pitch may matter just as much as performance on it.