Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe has reiterated that the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will proceed as scheduled in the joint-host nations of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
Speaking during a press conference on Sunday, Motsepe dismissed growing concerns about the region’s preparedness, insisting that the continental showpiece will remain in East Africa despite recent inspection findings highlighting infrastructure gaps.
In a major policy shift, the CAF president also revealed that the AFCON tournament will expand from 24 to 28 teams starting with the 2027 edition. However, he did not provide details on the structure of the new format or how the additional slots will be distributed.
The tournament has featured 24 teams since its expansion from 16 in 2019, a move that significantly broadened participation across the continent.
Motsepe further outlined CAF’s long-term competition calendar, confirming that another AFCON edition will be staged in 2028, after which the tournament will adopt a four-year cycle. Additionally, the governing body plans to launch an African Nations League in 2029, with a 16-team finals tournament to be played biennially.
“We have to stop this thing of African fixtures not being predictable, consistent and reliable. We must develop football in East Africa, which is an area of much potential,” Motsepe emphasized.
His remarks come in the wake of a CAF inspection report released in February, which raised red flags about the readiness of the three co-hosts.
In Uganda, the Nelson Mandela National Stadium—commonly known as Namboole—was flagged for delays in renovation works. Meanwhile, the newly constructed Hoima City Stadium was also reported to have several shortcomings despite nearing completion.
Concerns were equally raised about limited availability of high-end accommodation facilities in the Bunyoro sub-region, which is expected to host matches once the Hoima venue is operational.
Despite these challenges, CAF leadership remains confident that the three nations will meet the required standards in time, keeping East Africa on course to deliver a historic AFCON tournament in 2027.
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