CAF boss Patrice Motsepe moves to quell 'baseless' speculation of hosting AFCON in East Africa

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be in East Africa, with co-hosts Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania working together to prepare for the tournament next year.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe, speaking in Dar es Salaam following Friday’s executive committee meeting in Addis Ababa, took significant steps to address lingering doubts about the host countries’ readiness.

Motsepe stated that the tournament is on track and CAF is addressing infrastructure concerns.

“I don’t want to hear that question again of whether AFCON will be played in East Africa or taken away,” he declared, clearly indicating CAF’s resolute commitment to ensuring the event remains in the region.

The tournament, scheduled for June and July 2027, marks a historic occasion as it will be the first time three nations co-host the football championship. Motsepe expressed his confidence in the upcoming event, reflecting a spirit of cooperation among the leaders of the host nations.

He commended Presidents Samia Suluhu of Tanzania, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, and William Ruto of Kenya for their dedication to making the tournament a resounding success.

In a display of regional enthusiasm, President Ruto recently shared a selfie-video, enthusiastically declaring Kenya’s readiness to host the event.

This sentiment resonates strongly with Motsepe’s assertion that AFCON moving from East Africa is merely baseless speculation and that mutual trust amongst African nations is essential to overcoming challenges.

Moreover, Motsepe announced a significant expansion of the tournament, announcing plans to accommodate 28 participating teams to foster broader representation of African nations and underscore the continent’s footballing potential.

“We must believe in ourselves as Africa,” he said, emphasising the vital role that East Africa must play in hosting prestigious events like AFCON to realise its potential.

Addressing concerns about the impact of Kenya’s 2027 elections, Motsepe reassured, “We will have our tournament before the elections,” alleviating fears of disruptions that could affect the tournament’s hosting.

This edition of AFCON is especially significant as it coincides with the tournament’s 70th anniversary.

It will be the last time the tournament will be in an odd-numbered year. Subsequent tournaments will transition to a quadrennial format starting from 2028, signalling a transformative shift in the landscape of African football.