CAF Confirms 2027 AFCON Dates, Dismisses Hosting Doubts
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) President, Patrice Motsepe, has officially announced that the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be held in June and July of next year. The tournament will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, and Motsepe firmly refuted recent reports suggesting a delay or relocation of the event.
Addressing Infrastructure Concerns
Despite some concerns raised regarding the readiness of infrastructure in the three East African nations, Motsepe expressed strong confidence in their ability to successfully host the prestigious tournament. He stated that the reports of potential issues were “totally unfounded.” CAF officials are currently conducting inspections of facilities and infrastructure across the host countries, with assessments scheduled to continue until Tuesday.
Kenya’s Perspective & Tournament Timing
Nicholas Musonye, chair of Kenya’s local organizing committee, previously suggested that postponing the tournament until 2028 might benefit Kenya, given the country’s upcoming general election in August 2027. However, Motsepe remains optimistic, asserting that the 2027 AFCON will be “enormously successful.”
Future Plans for AFCON
Motsepe emphasized the importance of believing in African talent and leadership, stating, “The quality of people we have who lead African football are world class.” He also revealed plans to potentially expand the AFCON tournament from its current 24 teams to 28 in the future. Furthermore, CAF will transition to holding the AFCON every four years, instead of biennially, starting in 2028.
Women’s AFCON & Morocco’s Hosting Role
In other news, CAF is continuing discussions with Morocco to host the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), scheduled to begin on March 17th. Despite offers from other nations, Motsepe stressed the importance of maintaining the original date to ensure WAFCON serves as a qualifier for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. He affirmed that the tournament will proceed successfully within the established timeframe.
Shifting Tournament Schedule
CAF initially committed to hosting AFCON mid-year from 2019 onwards, but the last three editions have been held in January-February or December-January. This shift was largely due to conflicts with the European club season and player release dates.
The precise dates for the 2027 AFCON will be announced at a later date. Updates on bids for the 2028 AFCON finals are also forthcoming.
Stay tuned for further updates on the 2027 AFCON and other CAF initiatives!
