CAF President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe reveals he is strongly confident the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), to be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, will be a major success, insisting that the tournament will not be taken away from the East African trio.
Speaking at a Confederation of African Football (CAF) event held to formally hand over hosting responsibilities to the next AFCON hosts, Motsepe outlined the philosophy behind CAF’s decision and his personal role in pushing for the region to host major competitions ahead of 2027.
Motsepe revealed that infrastructure development was a central reason behind his insistence that Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania should host the African Nations Championship (CHAN) ahead of AFCON 2027.
According to the CAF president, staging CHAN was deliberately designed to accelerate preparations and ensure the three nations are fully equipped to deliver AFCON to the highest international standards.
“I have a duty to develop football all over Africa. We cannot have major competitions in only four countries that already have the infrastructure,” Motsepe said.
“We must create opportunities for other countries to build world-class infrastructure and, in doing so, develop football in those nations as well.”
Why CHAN Was Key to AFCON 2027 Preparations
Motsepe explained that CAF’s decision to award CHAN to the East African nations, amid early concerns about readiness, was strategic and long-term in nature.
“That is why I insisted that CHAN should take place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, even though they were not fully ready at the time,” he said.
“I was convinced it would help enormously in ensuring a successful AFCON in 2027.”
The CAF president made it clear that the experience gained from hosting CHAN would play a vital role in strengthening stadiums, training facilities, logistics and organisational capacity across the region.
“I Will Not Take the Competition Away” – Motsepe
Addressing speculation and concerns that hosting rights could still be reviewed, Motsepe offered firm reassurance to the three host nations.
“I am confident that AFCON in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will be enormously successful, and I will not take the competition away from them,” he stated.
This explains CAF’s commitment to decentralising football development and breaking away from a pattern where major tournaments are repeatedly hosted by the same countries.
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AFCON 2027: A Historic Tournament
AFCON 2027 is scheduled to take place in East Africa between June and July 2027 and will be historic for several reasons.
The tournament will:
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Be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania
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Mark the final AFCON edition staged in an odd-numbered year
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Precede CAF’s transition to a four-year cycle starting from 2028
Beyond football, the joint hosting is expected to significantly boost infrastructure development, regional cooperation and economic activity, while accelerating the overall growth of the sport across East Africa.
