Motsepe confirms 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda despite doubts

CAF president Patrice Motsepe has officially confirmed that the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will take place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17. His statement comes after independent journalist Romain Molina, a specialist in African football, recently raised doubts about the three countries’ capacity to host the tournament.

Motsepe travelled to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to inspect the planned facilities before continuing his tour to Kenya. A visit to Uganda is scheduled for later. “I am more confident and satisfied with the preparations,” he said following his time in Tanzania.

CAF currently has no backup plan if the three East African nations prove unable to host the 24 qualified teams. “We have nine months before the competition, we must accelerate and work together, this is our Africa Cup of Nations,” the confederation president insisted. Another inspection tour is planned for January, five months before kick-off, to validate progress in each host city.

The tournament, nicknamed Pamoja — “unity” in Swahili — will be held across four major stadiums: Benjamin Mkapa Stadium (60,000 capacity) in Dar es Salaam, Raila Odinga International Stadium (60,000 capacity) and Moi International Sports Centre (55,000 capacity) in Nairobi, and Mandela National Stadium (64,125 capacity) in Kampala. These capacities remain conditional on the completion of ongoing renovation work.

This 2027 edition will take place just eighteen months after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, organised in Morocco and concluded on January 18 in Rabat. Qualifying matches for the next edition begin in the coming days. Additionally, a 2028 Africa Cup of Nations is also scheduled to align the calendar with the Euros and Copa America; Morocco is reportedly a candidate to host it.