Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Dr. Patrice Motsepe has expressed strong confidence in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda as hosts of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), insisting that East Africa is fully capable of staging a successful and memorable tournament.
Speaking during a press conference in Rabat, Motsepe reaffirmed CAF’s belief in the three nations, who will jointly host AFCON for the first time in the competition’s history. The 2027 edition will also mark the first time the continent’s flagship tournament is held across three countries in the CECAFA region.
“I am confident that the AFCON in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda will be enormously successful. That’s why I insisted that CHAN take place there to get them ready. We will not take the 2027 AFCON away from East Africa. A team is going there on Monday to start serious inspection,” Dr. Motsepe said.
Motsepe emphasized that CAF will continue to work closely with the host nations to ensure timelines are met and that all requirements are fulfilled well ahead of kickoff in June 2027.
He further doubled down on the decision to cancel the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) made in December 2025, calling the tournament “a spectacular money loser.”
For Uganda, hosting AFCON represents a landmark moment in the nation’s football history, with the Mandela National Stadium in Namboole, Hoima City Stadium and other proposed venues expected to play central roles. Kenya and Tanzania are also undertaking major renovations and constructions to meet CAF standards.
