CAF boss Motsepe dismisses doubts over Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania hosting AFCON 2027
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Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 18.01.26. | 12:21
Speaking to reporters in Rabat ahead of the AFCON final between Morocco and Senegal, Motsepe acknowledged that Morocco’s hosting of the current edition has set a new benchmark for the competition
Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has dismissed concerns over East Africa’s readiness to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), expressing full confidence in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania’s ability to stage a successful tournament.
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Speaking to reporters in Rabat ahead of the AFCON final between Morocco and Senegal, Motsepe acknowledged that Morocco’s hosting of the current edition has set a new benchmark for the competition.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns boss said his leadership role comes with the responsibility of ensuring football development reaches all parts of the continent, not just the traditionally strong footballing nations.
“Part of my responsibility is to make sure football gets to every part of Africa,” Motsepe said.
He noted that while AFCON in Morocco has been highly successful, he remains confident that East Africa will deliver a strong tournament and insisted there was no reason to strip the region of hosting rights.
“This has been the most successful AFCON in the history of the competition. The quality of football has been world-class, as has the standard of stadiums and infrastructure,” Motsepe said.
Morocco, which is preparing to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal, is also being considered as a potential host of the 2028 AFCON as a test event ahead of the global tournament.
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Motsepe revealed that several other countries have also expressed interest in hosting the 2028 edition.
Despite that interest, the CAF president was firm on the 2027 plan.
“I am confident that the AFCON in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania will be enormously successful. We are not going to take the competition away from these countries,” he declared.
The three nations jointly hosted last year’s African Nations Championship (CHAN) for domestic league players, although the tournament was postponed to August to allow more time for facility upgrades.
Motsepe, however, stressed that his mandate is to grow the game across Africa, even when decisions are difficult.
“Part of being a leader is dealing with difficult and unpleasant decisions,” the South African said. “I have a duty to develop football all over Africa. I cannot have football only in countries with the best infrastructure.”
The 2027 edition will mark the first time AFCON returns to the region since Ethiopia hosted the tournament in 1976. It will also precede a major shift in scheduling, with the competition moving to a four-year cycle after being staged every two years since 1957.
Motsepe, who announced the controversial calendar change shortly before the Morocco tournament, insisted the decision was not influenced by pressure from European clubs or FIFA.
“We have to free ourselves as Africans and not think that every decision we make is because FIFA or Europe says so,” he said, while acknowledging that “there are times when you have to make concessions.”
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