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The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be staged as scheduled in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed on Friday.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe dismissed media reports suggesting the tournament could be postponed to 2028 due to concerns that host nations were not yet fully prepared.
“We have done a lot to ensure AFCON is held in East Africa, and our commitment remains firm,” Motsepe said after a CAF executive committee meeting. “I am confident we will deliver a very successful tournament across the three countries.”
He added that CAF would work closely with the host governments to ensure all aspects of the competition — including infrastructure and logistics — meet required standards.
Although official dates have not yet been announced, CAF has earmarked June and July for the tournament, which is scheduled shortly before Kenya’s general elections in August.
However, Nicholas Musonye, chairman of Kenya’s local organising committee, had earlier suggested postponing the competition to 2028, citing concerns over the “volatile atmosphere” surrounding the elections. He warned that guaranteeing security for a major event such as AFCON could prove difficult during that period.
Motsepe also said CAF would continue investing in the training and development of referees and VAR officials, stressing that safeguarding the integrity of African football remains a top priority.
Officiating standards came under intense scrutiny at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, particularly during the final between hosts Morocco and Senegal, when the Senegalese team briefly walked off the pitch in protest over a penalty decision before eventually returning to win the title.
