Africa Cup of Nations 2027 Scheduled for June-July

CAF President Confirms Dates

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe has confirmed that the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will occur in June and July. This announcement dispels any rumors regarding a possible delay or relocation of the tournament co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Infrastructure Concerns and Local Perspectives

Amidst discussions, doubts have surfaced regarding the readiness of the necessary infrastructure in the three host nations ahead of the finals. Nicholas Musonye, the head of Kenya’s organizing committee, suggested in an interview that pushing the tournament to 2028 could be beneficial for Kenya, given the upcoming general elections in August 2027.

Motsepe expressed confidence in the success of the tournament, emphasizing the importance of faith in African capabilities.

“The AFCON next year will be immensely successful. I am very optimistic. Challenges are part of any endeavor, but we must trust in our leadership,” he stated.

Following a CAF executive committee meeting in Dar es Salaam, officials will continue to inspect the facilities and infrastructure in each host country until this Tuesday.

CAF had previously committed to holding AFCON mid-year starting in 2019; however, the past three tournaments were played either in January-February or December-January. The scheduling of AFCON during the European club season has led to issues regarding player availability. Starting in 2028, AFCON will transition to being held every four years, rather than biennially. Specific dates for the 2027 AFCON will be revealed later. Additionally, Motsepe mentioned that while there is no update on bids for the 2028 finals, there are aspirations to expand the tournament from 24 to 28 participating teams.

WAFCON Still Scheduled to Take Place in Morocco

In related news, Motsepe has stated that CAF continues to coordinate with Morocco to host the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), set to commence on March 17. There had been discussions about South Africa stepping in as an alternative host; however, the South African sports minister reaffirmed that Morocco remains the official host.

Motsepe remarked that several countries had expressed interest in hosting, but requested a change of dates, which is not feasible due to its status as a qualifier for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

“The WAFCON is on track, and it is essential it takes place within the designated timeframe,” he confirmed.

Related Topics

• African Sports
• Football