Motsepe confident AFCON 2027 will succeed despite delays and governance tensions

CAF president Confederation of African Football Patrice Motsepe has expressed confidence that the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be “enormously successful,” despite concerns over infrastructure delays and political tensions in the host nations.

Speaking to BBC Africa on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Motsepe acknowledged that progress in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda has not been without challenges, but insisted preparations remain firmly on track.

“Are there areas where there’s room for improvement? Absolutely,” he said. “But the commitment, the support from President Ruto of Kenya, from Madam President Samia Suluhu Hassan in Tanzania, from President Museveni in Uganda is enormous.”

The 2027 tournament will be the first Africa Cup of Nations co-hosted by three countries, with East Africa staging the competition for the first time in more than five decades.

A recent inspection report by CAF highlighted delays in stadium upgrades and supporting infrastructure, including transport networks across all three host nations. However, Motsepe said dedicated CAF teams are stationed on the ground to accelerate progress.

“We’ve got people from CAF who are permanently based in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda,” he said. “They are working every day on the preparations and making sure that the AFCON, which is going to take place in June 2027, is going to be successful.”

In Kenya, preparations are unfolding alongside a governance dispute within the Football Kenya Federation. Nine of the federation’s 12 executive committee members have called for the resignation of president Hussein Mohammed over allegations of financial misconduct.

Mohammed has rejected the accusations, instead accusing rivals led by his deputy, former Kenya international McDonald Mariga, of attempting a takeover.

The situation has drawn the attention of world football governing body FIFA and CAF, both of which have sought clarification on the internal dispute.

Motsepe struck an optimistic tone about the prospect of resolution.

“I’m confident that we will resolve those issues in a manner that complies with the CAF and FIFA statutes and regulations,” he said.

Kenya has previously faced sanctions from FIFA over administrative instability, including a nine-month suspension in 2022 after government interference led to the disbandment of the FKF.

Despite the concerns, CAF maintains that preparations across the three host nations remain active and coordinated as Africa’s flagship tournament prepares for its return to East Africa for the first time since Ethiopia hosted in 1976.