South Africa lined up as backup for troubled 2027 AFCON plans

The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations could be moved from its original hosts after growing concerns over delays in infrastructure development, with South Africa now being considered as a potential replacement.

The tournament was initially awarded by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on April 7, 2023, to a joint bid from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, marking the first time three countries were selected to host the competition.

However, recent developments have cast doubt over their ability to deliver the event as planned between June 19 and July 18, 2027.

According to reports from Le Monde, a CAF inspection has highlighted significant concerns, particularly regarding the pace of construction and renovation of stadiums, as well as supporting infrastructure such as transport and accommodation.

Kenya had committed to providing five stadiums, including three in Nairobi — one of them newly built — alongside venues in Kakamega and Eldoret.

Tanzania planned to host matches across four cities, with new stadiums scheduled in Arusha and Dodoma. Uganda identified Kampala, Hoima and Lira as host cities, with new facilities also expected in the latter two.

However, progress has not been uniform across the three nations. Tanzania is reportedly meeting CAF expectations and remains on schedule. In contrast, Uganda and Kenya are facing more serious challenges.

Uganda has been singled out in the report, with concerns that none of its current stadiums meet CAF’s required category 4 standards.

Projects such as the development in Hoima and the renovation of the 45,202-seat Nelson Mandela Stadium in Kampala are ongoing but have yet to meet the necessary criteria.

Kenya has also faced scrutiny, particularly regarding the Moi International Sports Centre and the Talanta Sports Stadium in Nairobi.

The latter, a planned 60,000-seat venue, was expected to be completed by the end of 2025, although local authorities now suggest it could be ready by July.

In addition to stadium concerns, CAF has reportedly identified issues with the coordination of transport and reception infrastructure across the three host nations, further complicating preparations.

As a result, contingency planning is now underway. Discussions among African football officials have pointed to South Africa as a viable alternative to take over the organisation of the tournament.

Such a move could allow the original hosts more time to complete their preparations, potentially shifting their hosting ambitions to 2028.

Rwanda has also been mentioned as a possible option should one of the three nations be unable to fulfil its role.

With time progressing and preparations under scrutiny, the future location of AFCON 2027 remains uncertain, as CAF weighs its options in the face of mounting logistical challenges.