Africa Cup of Nations 2027: Algeria rejects possible rescue bid as host delays grow

Algeria has reportedly ruled out stepping in to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, leaving the Confederation of African Football with fewer alternatives as concerns grow over preparations in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe has insisted there is “neither a plan B nor a plan C”, while also describing the situation nine months before the tournament as a “major emergency”.

The contrasting statements have raised questions over whether the three host nations will retain the tournament. CAF has publicly maintained its confidence in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, despite acknowledging significant delays. However, several contingency options are understood to have been examined privately.

According to Le Monde, CAF has approached Morocco, South Africa and Algeria. The three countries reportedly have 16, 13 and seven approved stadiums respectively. Egypt, which could be a candidate to host the 2028 edition, and Cote d’Ivoire, host of the 2023 tournament, are also considered capable of taking over the event at short notice.

Algeria, however, is not interested. Winwin reports that the country’s authorities do not intend to submit a bid, even if they receive an official request, and would rather focus their efforts on developing Algerian football.

That decision is likely to disappoint some supporters. Despite its size, infrastructure and football following, Algeria has hosted the Africa Cup of Nations only once, in 1990, when the Fennecs won the trophy on home soil.

The country has since made several unsuccessful attempts to secure the competition. Mali was awarded the 2002 edition, while Gabon was chosen to host the 2017 tournament. Algeria also applied to stage the 2025 and 2027 editions, but officially withdrew both bids on the eve of the announcement of the host countries.

From an organisational perspective, Algeria would appear to have the necessary facilities. It demonstrated during the 2022 African Nations Championship, held in early 2023, that it could stage a continental tournament using modern venues and meet the demands of the competition.

The tournament was held at the Nelson-Mandela Stadium in Algiers, the Miloud-Hadefi Stadium in Oran, the Chahid-Hamlaoui Stadium in Constantine and the 19-Mai-1956 Stadium in Annaba.

The obstacle is therefore not a lack of available infrastructure, but Algeria’s reluctance to re-enter the process only months before the tournament is due to begin.

Morocco is already preparing for the 2030 World Cup, while South Africa appears to have considerable capacity to host the event. Egypt has experience of taking on major competitions at short notice, having staged the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, and Cote d’Ivoire can still rely on the infrastructure developed for its 2023 tournament.

For now, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania remain the official hosts of the 2027 edition. CAF continues to press them to accelerate construction and improvement work, having already set several deadlines in response to the “delays and shortcomings” identified.