CAF President Motsepe outlines clear plan for 2027 AFCON after World Cup progress

Confederation Africaine de Football President Dr Patrice Motsepe has stressed that CAF already has a clear plan for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, pointing to the progress made in African football in recent years.

Motsepe made the remarks during his press conference in Johannesburg on Wednesday, July 22, where he addressed members of the media on several issues concerning CAF and the future of football on the continent. CAF had announced the briefing earlier this week, confirming that the president would speak at the Sandton Sun Hotel.

With attention now beginning to shift towards the next edition of the continent’s biggest football competition, Motsepe underlined the importance CAF places on AFCON.

“We have a clear plan because AFCON is next year, and we have seen enormous progress, and that is our flagship program,” Motsepe said.

The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, marking the first time three countries will stage the competition together. CAF has described the tournament as the biggest sporting event on African soil and has been working closely with the three governments and their respective football associations on preparations.

CAF’s preparations have already moved into a crucial phase. In May, Motsepe and government and football officials from the three host countries agreed to establish a PAMOJA Oversight Committee, which is responsible for providing strategic direction, coordination and supervision of preparations for the tournament.

Among the major areas being worked on are stadium and infrastructure development, host venues, transport, accommodation, security, medical services, broadcasting and cross-border movement between Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

CAF has set August 2026 as an important milestone for assessing progress, with the host nations expected to accelerate construction and rehabilitation of stadiums, training grounds and other tournament infrastructure. Officials are also working on a proposed PAMOJA visa framework designed to make movement between the three countries easier for supporters, teams, officials and accredited media during the competition.

Motsepe’s latest comments come just days after the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where African nations produced encouraging results.

Earlier during Wednesday’s briefing, the CAF president highlighted Morocco and Egypt as the continent’s leading performers based on results, while also praising South Africa, Senegal, Ghana and Algeria for their displays.

With the World Cup now completed, Motsepe believes maintaining that progress will be important as CAF turns its attention towards its flagship competition in East Africa next year.