Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe has reaffirmed that Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will stage the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, despite continuing concerns over delays to infrastructure projects.
Speaking in Cape Verde on Thursday during a CAF strategic meeting attended by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Motsepe said he had no doubt the tournament would remain in East Africa.
“We will go to Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and we will have the most successful Africa Cup of Nations,” he said, according to comments reported by Agence France-Presse.
The statement represents the latest attempt by CAF to end speculation that the tournament could be moved elsewhere. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda were jointly awarded hosting rights in 2023 under the “Pamoja” bid, a Swahili word meaning “together”.
Motsepe said he had seen “deep commitment” from the leaders of the three countries. He had held discussions with Kenya’s president William Ruto and his Tanzanian counterpart Samia Suluhu Hassan.
The tournament remains scheduled to take place from 19 June to 18 July 2027. It will feature 24 national teams and be the first Africa Cup of Nations to be jointly hosted by three countries.
However, the president’s confidence comes as CAF continues to monitor preparations closely.
Reports in recent months have raised concerns about the pace of construction and renovation work, the compliance of stadiums with required standards and the logistical demands of staging matches across three nations.
A CAF delegation travelled to Tanzania in early September to inspect infrastructure, following an earlier visit to Kenya. The development of the Talanta Sports Stadium in Nairobi is among the projects being watched particularly closely.
The condition of the preparations has repeatedly prompted reports that the competition could be relocated, with Morocco sometimes mentioned as a possible alternative host. No change has been announced or confirmed by CAF, which had already rejected that possibility in July.
Motsepe’s latest comments underline the governing body’s intention to keep the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in East Africa.
The main challenge now is to turn that stated confidence into tangible progress. Although CAF remains firm on the choice of hosts, meeting the deadlines and completing the required infrastructure remain the key tests facing Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.