Africa Cup of Nations 2027 threatened with postponement, merger with 2028 edition considered

The Africa Cup of Nations 2027, scheduled for June 19 to July 17 in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, may not take place on the announced dates. According to journalist Romain Molina, a specialist in African football, the CAF is exerting growing pressure on the three host countries due to significant delays in infrastructure preparation.

“The CAF is putting pressure on the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations host countries again because of delays, but what’s the point? Everyone is aware of the inevitable outcome, but Patrice Motsepe still wants to believe that the Africa Cup of Nations will be held on the scheduled dates,” Molina said. The CAF president thus appears to be officially maintaining course despite warning signs.

The three host nations — collectively nicknamed “Pamoja,” a Swahili word meaning “unity” — are showing very uneven levels of preparation. Kenya appears the most advanced, with three stadiums concentrated in Nairobi, including the new Raila Odinga International Stadium with a capacity of 60,000. Tanzania is planning four venues, notably in Dar es Salaam, Arusha and on the island of Zanzibar, with a capacity of 60,000 for the main stadium. In Uganda, the Mandela National Stadium (60,000 capacity) is still under construction.

The CAF must take stock in December next on the progress of construction in the three countries. This deadline could result in an outright cancellation or, more likely, a postponement to 2028. An Africa Cup of Nations edition is already scheduled on the international calendar for that summer, the same as the European Euro, before another one scheduled for 2032. A merger of the two African editions would thus be the most likely way out.

Meanwhile, the competition qualifiers begin during the next international window, starting September 21. The 54 African federations are divided into twelve groups of four teams; the top two from each group will join the three host nations, already qualified automatically but nonetheless competing in these qualifiers. The 24 participants will be known by the end of March 2027, just three months before the scheduled kick-off.