The Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has officially confirmed that the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will proceed as scheduled in June and July next year, dismissing speculation about potential delays or relocation. The tournament will be jointly hosted by three East African nations: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Motsepe characterized reports suggesting possible postponement as “totally unfounded” during a press conference following CAF’s executive committee meeting in Dar es Salaam. “The AFCON next year in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda is going to be enormously successful,” he stated, expressing strong confidence in the hosting capabilities of the three nations despite acknowledged infrastructure challenges.
The announcement comes amid concerns regarding readiness of facilities in the host countries. Nicholas Musonye, chair of Kenya’s local organizing committee, previously suggested to AFP that a postponement until 2028 would benefit Kenya, which faces a general election in August 2027.
CAF officials are currently conducting inspections of facilities and infrastructure across the three host nations, with assessments continuing through Tuesday. The tournament represents a return to mid-year scheduling after three consecutive editions were held during January-February or December-January windows to avoid conflicts with European club seasons.
In additional developments, Motsepe confirmed that the AFCON tournament will transition to a four-year cycle beginning in 2028, replacing the previous biennial format. He also expressed aspirations to expand the competition from 24 to 28 teams in future editions.
Regarding the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Motsepe indicated that Morocco remains the designated host despite offers from other nations to stage the tournament. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the scheduled March 17th start date as it serves as a qualifier for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.