AFCON 2027 May Be Delayed Until 2028 Due to Concerns Over Infrastructure in Host Countries
Next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) could be postponed until 2028, as doubts about the readiness of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda to host the prestigious tournament grow. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is expected to discuss the potential delay during its executive committee meeting in Dar es Salaam on Friday. In addition to this, the expected withdrawal of Morocco as hosts for next month’s Women’s AFCON will also be on the agenda.
In December, CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced significant changes to the tournament’s schedule. He confirmed that AFCON would switch from a biennial event to being held every four years, starting in 2028. The 2027 edition was set to take place in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, with the 2029 tournament being moved forward to 2028. However, with mounting concerns about the infrastructure in the three host countries, the 2027 tournament may now be delayed by 12 months.
Sources within CAF’s executive committee have raised serious questions about the ability of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda to accommodate a 24-team tournament, which would be spread over 10 cities. “There are major concerns over the infrastructure in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda and their ability to cope with such a large-scale event,” a source said. This follows challenges faced by the three countries in hosting the Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) in August last year, where issues related to ticketing and security were prevalent.
Adding to the complications is the challenge of fitting the AFCON qualifiers into the international football calendar, with several African teams expected to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As of now, CAF has yet to make an official comment on the situation.
Should the tournament be postponed, it would also mean the cancellation of the 2028 edition, for which Ethiopia had expressed interest in competing against a joint bid from South Africa and Botswana. Postponing AFCON 2027 would also clear the way for the launch of CAF’s first-ever African Nations League in 2029, a competition designed to replace both AFCON and CHAN as the continent’s primary source of revenue.
Despite these concerns, Motsepe remains confident that the 2027 tournament will go ahead. “I have a duty to develop football all over Africa,” he said. “I can’t have competitions only in those four countries where you’ve got the infrastructure. You’ve got to create opportunities for the other countries to build infrastructure as well.” He reassured that the AFCON in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda will be a “success.”
In the meantime, uncertainty surrounds the Women’s AFCON, scheduled to start on March 17. Morocco, originally set to host the event, has yet to confirm whether it will remain as the host nation, with South Africa offering to step in should Morocco withdraw. A decision on the matter is expected to be made during Friday’s executive committee meeting.
In addition to the AFCON discussions, it is also anticipated that at least one CAF executive committee member will raise questions about the continued tenure of CAF’s General Secretary, Véron Mosengo-Omba, who is said to have reached the statutory retirement age under CAF’s regulations.