AFCON 2027: Motsepe assures Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania to remain co-host

Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has allayed fears that the African body is planning to deny Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, the opportunity to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The 36th edition will be hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from June to July 2027. This edition of the tournament was the first to be hosted by three countries, and the first in five decades to be organised in the CECAFA region, since it was hosted by Ethiopia in 1976.

Speaking during a presser ahead of Sunday’s final of the 2025 AFCON between Morocco and Nigeria in Rabat, Motsepe maintained the three East African nations will host the tournament.

This event will be part of AFCON’s 70th anniversary. It will also be the last one to be held in odd-numbered years, as CAF announced in December 2025 that AFCON would become a quadrennial tournament from 2028 onwards.

“I have a responsibility to promote African football… I believe that AFCON 2027 will be successful for Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and we will not deprive them of the opportunity to host (the competition),” said Motsepe while responding to a question on whether CAF could move the competition due to the readiness of the respective countries.

African football enjoying great success

“There is a CAF team going this Monday to Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to review preparations for #AFCON2027, let’s not be quick to take easy ways to solve problems, there are times when we have to use hard ways to solve those problems… What will happen is a long-term investment in the development of African football.”

Speaking about the development of African football currently with modern infrastructure, referees, VAR and player standards, Motsepe said: “African football is currently enjoying great success in the world.”

He continued: “The AFCON tournament costs us a lot of money, I will tell you the numbers because the Executive Committee knows them well. There are some costs that the sponsors help us with but there are others that fall on us.”

On the issue of the new competition and the criticism he received from some people, he responded: “We are currently giving away $10 million for AFCON (up from $5 million); and my goal is to get a similar prize money ($10 million) for the African Nations League (which will start in 2029).

“Where will I get it from? That is my job to fight for it.”

On complaints that some countries are being given preference, Motsepe said: “I was speaking to the presidents of all the countries yesterday. I told them that no team among the 54 member countries of CAF will be treated differently from any other country.

“No team will be given preference among all the 54 member countries.”