‘I believe 2027 AFCON will be successful for Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda’ – Motsepe
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will remain in East Africa, according to Confederation of African Football President Patrice Motsepe, who has dismissed doubts surrounding the tournament’s future.
Speaking in Tanzania during a CAF meeting on Friday, Motsepe reiterated that the competition will not be pushed to 2028 and will not be moved away from its designated co-hosts – Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. He underlined CAF’s commitment to ensuring the tournament proceeds as scheduled, despite ongoing speculation.
“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 the media in Tanzania before commencing 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).
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“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.”
Motsepe pointed to the cooperation among the three football federations as a central factor in preparations. He stressed that unity and collective effort will determine the success of what he believes can become one of Africa’s standout tournaments.
“It is going to be enormous. I came here to reaffirm my confidence and believe East Africa will stage the best AFCON ever.”
Questions have also been raised about Kenya’s elections scheduled for 2027, but Motsepe played down any potential disruption.
“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 within a month that Motsepe has publicly defended East Africa’s hosting rights. During the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, he made it clear that CAF would not withdraw the opportunity from the three nations.
“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 make history as the first Africa Cup of Nations jointly organised by three countries. It will also be the first time in five decades that the CECAFA region stages the tournament, following Ethiopia’s hosting in 1976.
In addition, it forms part of AFCON’s 70th anniversary and will be the last edition played in an odd-numbered year before the competition transitions to a quadrennial format from 2028, as announced by CAF in December 2025.
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