AFCON 2027: CAF confirms when and where tournament will be held

Amid reports that the 2027 Africa Cup would be moved to 2028 over doubts about East Africa’s preparedness, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has stood by its earlier decision.

A report early this week claimed that CAF was set to confirm the new development on Friday after its Executive Committee meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania but CAF president Patrice Motsepe made it clear that AFCON 2027 will be held next year as initially planned.

“The AFCON next year in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda is going to be enormously successful and I saw lots of media speculation and even the Guardian in London, that there is an allegation that I am here to tell Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda that I am taking away the AFCON because our three countries are not going to be ready,” Motsepe said after the meeting.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe, Cote dlvoire President Alassane Ouattara and Gianni Infantino FIFA President with trophy during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final. – Photo by Icon Sport

CAF president clears doubts over East Africa

“That is totally unfounded. Sometimes I say certain things and the media says something opposite. I am enormously confident that we will succeed. There are always challenges, I had a big challenge in Cameroon [AFCON 2021] soon after I became president [of CAF].

“I was told Cameroon is not ready so I have to take it away and they recommended a number of countries who were ready. But we have to believe in our people that there will be challenges.”

Motsepe - CAF to go hard on erring countries who maltreat opponents — Patrice Motsepe, CAF president. Photo by Chris Omollo Copyright: xx

Doubts had emerged over whether East Africa would match the high standards set by Morocco, the AFCON 2025 hosts, with the three co-hosting nations Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania still behind in getting infrastructure ready.

In Kenya, the main Talanta Stadium is still under construction while the second one, Kasarani, is in poor condition and has just closed for renovation. In Tanzania, a new stadium in Arusha, known as Samia Suluhu Stadium, is still under construction.

Bafana Bafana players against Egypt at AFCON 2025. Photo Imago — South Africa vs Egpyt at AFCON 2025. Image: Imago

Motsepe confident of successful AFCON 2027

Uganda has two stadiums ready but there are doubts about transport and accommodation but Motsepe insists these are challenges experienced all over Africa and will be navigated smoothly.

“There will be information in the media that this stadium, pitch or grass is not ready, hotels not enough but we will fix those challenges,” added Motsepe.

“We will have a celebration [in East Africa]. I can say as the president of the 54 football associations in Africa, I was so proud of how Tanzania played in Morocco [AFCON 2025], I was proud of how Uganda played and, in my head, I was so proud of how Kenya would have played.

“And we will use this tournament to find the best young players. East Africa is going to be a powerhouse of the best football on the continental as much as West Africa, North Africa and Southern Africa is a powerhouse,” the CAF boss further said while announcing that AFCON 2027 will take place between June and July next year.