AFCON Format and Hosts
Understanding how AFCON is structured — and the edge a host nation carries — sharpens every bet you place. Here is the 24-team format and what it means for the markets.
The 24-team format
AFCON is a 24-team tournament drawn into six groups of four. The top two from each group, plus the four best third-placed sides, advance to a round of 16 — after which it is straight knockout: round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final. The most recent edition, the 35th, was hosted by Morocco across December 2025 and January 2026, with Senegal champions. The third-place safety net means a team can lose a group game and still go through, which reshapes group-stage betting.
Hosting and what the format means for betting
The host nation matters: home support, familiar conditions and a settled base regularly lift hosts beyond their pre-tournament price, so they are worth a second look in the outright and to-qualify markets. The expanded knockout bracket adds a round of 16 — more 'to qualify' and extra-time markets, and more chances for an upset to shake up the favourites. Bear in mind that knockout ties can go to extra time and penalties, which changes how some bets settle; the AFCON betting page explains it. See the AFCON betting guide for the full markets.
Frequently asked questions
How many teams play at AFCON?
Twenty-four, drawn into six groups of four. The top two from each group plus the four best third-placed teams reach a round of 16, then it is straight knockout to the final.
Does the AFCON host nation have a betting edge?
Often, yes. Home support, familiar conditions and a settled base regularly lift host nations beyond their pre-tournament price, making them worth a look in the outright and to-qualify markets.