Confederation of African Football President Patrice Motsepe has reaffirmed that the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be staged in East Africa as scheduled and will not be postponed to 2028, Trybal News Reports.
Speaking at a CAF meeting in Tanzania on Friday, Motsepe expressed strong confidence in the preparations of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, who are set to co host the tournament. He dismissed concerns about a possible change of plans and insisted the competition will go ahead in the region.
“I know AFCON will be staged here, so I don’t want to hear that question again of whether AFCON will be played in East Africa or it will be taken away,” Motsepe told reporters before his press briefing.
“We have done a lot to have AFCON held in East Africa, and our commitment remains to have AFCON in East Africa. I know there will be a lot of news in the coming weeks about AFCON status, let us leave that behind us, and stay focused because we know AFCON will be held here (in East Africa).
“We understand there may be several challenges, but it is important that we trust each other and support each other as Africans, because it is possible.
“I am enormously confident we will succeed in hosting 2027 AFCON in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.”
Patrice Motsepe praised the commitment shown by the leaders of the three host nations and thanked them for their support toward delivering a successful tournament.
“I am very happy with how the Heads of States from the three nations are committed to make AFCON a success. I want to thank President Samia Suluhu of Tanzania, I want to thank President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, for the commitment to make AFCON an immense success.
“I also want to thank Kenya Head of State President Ruto. He recently posted a selfie-video of him saying Kenya is ready to host AFCON. CAF does not take their commitment for granted.”
He added that excluding East Africa from hosting major competitions would limit the region’s growth and development in football. According to him, giving the region the opportunity to organise AFCON is essential for the progress of the game across the continent.
Motsepe also addressed concerns about Kenya’s general elections scheduled for 2027 and their possible impact on the tournament.
“I don’t think so. We will have our tournament before the elections. I know that is how the schedule is, and we don’t have to worry.”
This marks the second time in recent weeks that Patrice Motsepe has publicly backed the three nations to host the competition. During the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, he stated that CAF would not deny Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania the chance to organise the tournament.
“I have a responsibility to promote African football… I believe 2027 AFCON will be successful for Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and we will not deprive them of the opportunity to host (the competition),” he said.
The 2027 edition will be historic as it will be the first Africa Cup of Nations to be jointly hosted by three countries. It will also be the first time in five decades that the tournament is staged in the CECAFA region since Ethiopia hosted it in 1976.
The competition will coincide with AFCON’s 70th anniversary celebrations and will be the last edition held in an odd numbered year, following CAF’s decision in December 2025 to switch the tournament to a quadrennial schedule from 2028.
