CAF responds to reports of 2027 AFCON postponement
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 12.02.26. | 19:42
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania won the hosting rights in September 2023, beating bids from Senegal and Botswana. Preparations are ongoing across the three nations
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has firmly dismissed reports suggesting that the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, could be postponed to 2028.
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CAF’s Head of TV and Broadcasting (Commercial), Luxolo September, reacted strongly to a report published by The Guardian claiming the tournament was facing possible delay due to concerns over preparedness in the three East African nations.
Responding on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to the article shared by journalist Ed Aarons, the senior CAF official rubbished the claims, stating: “You write fiction.”
The Guardian had reported that CAF’s Executive Committee was expected to discuss a proposal to postpone the tournament when it meets in Dar es Salaam on Friday, 13 February.
The publication cited alleged infrastructure concerns across the three host nations and scheduling complications within the international calendar as key reasons behind the potential delay.
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According to the report, doubts had been raised about the region’s ability to stage a 24-team tournament across 10 cities.
It also referenced operational challenges experienced during the African Nations Championship hosted across the three countries, including ticketing and security concerns, as factors fuelling fresh questions over readiness.
The publication further suggested that Morocco’s anticipated withdrawal as hosts of the upcoming Women’s AFCON and CAF’s broader calendar restructuring could influence discussions.
In December, CAF president Patrice Motsepe announced that AFCON would transition from a biennial to a four-year cycle beginning in 2028.
Under that restructuring, the 2027 edition could theoretically be moved, with the 2029 tournament potentially brought forward to align with the new calendar.
However, CAF has publicly maintained that the 2027 tournament will proceed as planned. Motsepe recently reiterated his commitment to spreading major competitions across the continent.
“I have a duty to develop football all over Africa,” he said. “I cannot have competitions only in those four countries where you have the infrastructure. You have got to create opportunities for other countries to build infrastructure as well.”
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania won the hosting rights in September 2023, beating bids from Senegal and Botswana. Preparations are ongoing across the three nations.
CAF has already dispatched a team of technical experts to conduct inspection visits as part of its standard oversight process. The inspections, which run until Tuesday, 17 February, focus on pitch requirements, safety, security and overall infrastructure readiness at match venues and training facilities.
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In Tanzania, the inspection programme began in Dar es Salaam with visits to the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium and designated training sites, before moving to Arusha to assess the Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium. In Zanzibar, Amaan Stadium and Fumba Stadium are also being evaluated.
In Kenya, the CAF delegation is inspecting Kasarani Stadium, Nyayo Stadium and the Talanta Sports Stadium, alongside training facilities such as the Ulinzi Sports Complex and the Kenya Academy of Sports.
Uganda’s programme includes visits to Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, facilities in Entebbe and Hoima City Stadium, which was officially opened last year and earmarked as one of the tournament venues.
CAF says the inspections are part of a broader strategy to enforce strict world-class delivery standards and elevate AFCON’s global standing.
The continental body has pledged to continue working closely with the three governments and their respective Local Organising Committees to ensure preparations intensify.
