The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced the key dates for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
In its notice, CAF revealed that the competition will kick off on Saturday, 19 June 2027, with the final scheduled for Saturday, 17 July 2027.
Details regarding the specific host nations for the opening match and the final are yet to be confirmed, with an official announcement expected in due course.
A Historic First for African Football
The 2027 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will break new ground as the first in history to be staged across three countries. This unique arrangement is expected to significantly expand the tournament’s reach, with over 400 million people across East Africa set to engage with the event.
Qualification Journey Takes Shape
Following the completion of the preliminary round, attention now turns to the qualifiers. The official draw for the qualification stage is scheduled for 19 May 2026, where the path to the tournament will be determined.
A total of 48 teams, including the three host nations, will compete for a place at the finals. These teams will be divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two sides from each group securing qualification.
Key Dates for the Qualifiers
The qualification matches will be played across three FIFA international windows. The first round of fixtures, covering matchdays one and two, will take place between 21 September and 6 October 2026. The second round, featuring matchdays three and four, is set for 9 to 17 November 2026. The final round of qualifiers, matchdays five and six, will be played from 22 to 30 March 2027.
Return to East Africa After Five Decades
The tournament also marks a long-awaited return to the East African region, which last hosted the competition in 1976 in Ethiopia. The 2027 edition is therefore expected to carry both historical and cultural significance for the region.
Building on AFCON’s Global Growth
CAF aims to build on the success of recent tournaments, including the editions hosted in Morocco in 2025 and Côte d’Ivoire in 2023. These competitions recorded impressive growth in commercial revenue, sponsorship, and global viewership, underlining the rising global profile of African football.
With dates now confirmed and the qualification process set in motion, the road to East Africa promises to deliver another unforgettable chapter in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations.
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