CAF Holds 2027 AFCON Host Talks With Morocco, South Africa and Algeria
CAF has opened contingency talks with Morocco, South Africa and Algeria over hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations as concern grows over preparations in Kenya and Uganda.
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are due to stage the 36th AFCON from June 19 to July 17, 2027, but recent CAF inspection visits identified major issues involving unfinished stadium projects, limited accommodation and broader transport and operational planning.
East Africa faces key inspections
- CAF awarded the 2027 tournament to the three East African nations, setting up the region’s first AFCON since Ethiopia hosted in 1976.
- Inspection teams subsequently raised alarms over the pace of work in Kenya and Uganda, with stadium completion among the central concerns.
- CAF has sounded out Morocco, South Africa and Algeria as possible replacement hosts if required standards and deadlines are not met.
- Ivory Coast and Egypt are also under consideration because of their established tournament infrastructure.
- Further CAF inspections are planned in the coming months before a final call on whether the East African co-hosts retain the event.
Motsepe remains publicly confident
CAF president Patrice Motsepe has maintained public confidence in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania’s ability to deliver the competition, while acknowledging that substantial work still needs to be done.
The pressure is particularly acute on Kenya and Uganda. Unless construction and wider preparations accelerate sharply, their three-country hosting project could be replaced by one of CAF’s standby options.
CAF has moved AFCON before
Relocating the finals would not be unprecedented. CAF shifted the 2013 edition from Libya to South Africa, moved the 2015 tournament from Morocco to Equatorial Guinea, and transferred the 2017 finals from Libya to Gabon. Cameroon lost the 2019 hosting rights to Egypt, while Guinea was replaced by Morocco for the 2025 edition.
The 2027 finals are also set to be AFCON’s last biennial tournament, adding further significance to CAF’s decision as the next inspection deadlines approach.
