The Confederation of African Football has expressed strong confidence in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda as hosts of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, pushing back firmly against speculation that the tournament could be cancelled due to alleged lack of preparedness.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe stressed that belief in Africa’s own capacity to host major competitions is crucial for the growth of the game on the continent. He urged stakeholders to remain optimistic and united behind the East African trio as preparations continue.
“CAF and African football be enormously successful this year and the years ahead. We have to believe in ourselves that we will host and host other tournaments, and believe that Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will deliver a good tournament next year,” Motsepe said.
His remarks come in response to reports suggesting that AFCON 2027 could be at risk because of concerns over infrastructure readiness in the host nations. Motsepe dismissed those claims outright, expressing frustration with what he described as repeated misinterpretation of his comments by sections of the media.
The CAF President noted that his position has often been distorted, with some reports presenting the “totally opposite” of what he actually said. He maintained that there is no basis for doubts surrounding the tournament’s future and insisted that progress on the ground has been encouraging.
“I am enormously confident that we will succeed,” Motsepe told reporters, underlining the steady improvements being made across the three countries.
He explained that CAF is working closely with the governments of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to ensure that all critical infrastructure, including stadiums, transport networks and training facilities, meets the required international standards well before the tournament kicks off. According to him, these collaborative efforts are already yielding visible results.
Beyond the immediate preparations, Motsepe framed AFCON 2027 as part of a broader vision for African football development. He argued that limiting major tournaments only to countries with already established world-class facilities would slow the game’s growth across other regions of the continent.
Drawing comparisons with past global tournaments, he noted that many countries faced scepticism before successfully hosting major events. Motsepe believes that the deep-rooted passion for football in East Africa will be a driving force behind a successful AFCON.
The firm dismissal of cancellation rumours has come as a relief to fans across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, where excitement has continued to build since the hosting rights were announced. Motsepe also pointed to the successful staging of other continental competitions, including the African Nations Championship, as proof of the region’s increasing capability.
By reaffirming CAF’s commitment during his visit to Tanzania, the CAF President sought to put an end to speculation and shift focus back to the ongoing preparations in Nairobi, Kampala and Dar es Salaam, insisting that Africa must trust its own ability to deliver a memorable tournament in 2027.
