Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania face growing pressure to keep their place as co-hosts of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)after reports emerged that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is considering alternative hosting arrangements amid concerns over delayed preparations.
A report by French newspaper Le Monde claimed CAF has begun exploring contingency plans in case the three Pamoja co-hosts fail to meet deadlines for the tournament scheduled for June and July 2027.
The three East African nations won the hosting rights in 2023 under the Pamoja bid, marking the first time three countries would jointly stage the competition.
The report has raised fresh questions about the region’s readiness, particularly with less than a year remaining before the continent’s biggest football tournament kicks off.
According to Le Monde, some CAF officials are increasingly concerned about the pace of stadium construction and infrastructure upgrades across the three host nations.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe recently completed an inspection tour of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, where he assessed preparations for the tournament. While publicly expressing confidence in the hosts, he acknowledged that urgent work remains before the competition begins.
“The problem is we are nine months away from the AFCON, which is a big emergency,” Motsepe said during his visit to the region.
He added that CAF had identified areas where the host countries were behind schedule and needed to accelerate progress.
CAF Concerns Over AFCON Preparations
The greatest concern appears to center on the completion of key sporting infrastructure, particularly in Kenya and Uganda.
Major projects include Nairobi’s Talanta Sports City Stadium and the renovation of Moi International Sports Center Kasarani, both expected to play central roles during the tournament.
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The expanded 24-team tournament requires multiple CAF-approved stadiums, training facilities, accommodation centers and transport networks. Any delays in delivering those facilities could complicate planning for the event and place additional pressure on organizers.
According to reports citing the Le Monde investigation, CAF has quietly reached out to several countries with established football infrastructure, including Morocco, Algeria, South Africa, Egypt and Ivory Coast, to assess their ability to step in should circumstances require a change.
However, CAF has not officially decided to withdraw hosting rights from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
CAF’s public position remains that the tournament will be held in East Africa as planned.
No Official Move Yet
The latest concerns come against the backdrop of previous AFCON hosting changes.
Cameroon lost the right to stage the 2019 tournament after delays in preparations, with Egypt stepping in as replacement hosts.
More recently, Guinea also lost hosting rights for the 2025 edition before Morocco was selected to organize the competition.
Despite the speculation, Motsepe has repeatedly dismissed suggestions that CAF is preparing to move the tournament elsewhere.
After meeting President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi, on September 18, CAF President Patrice Motsepe gave a positive assessment of Kenya’s preparations, saying he was impressed by progress at the Talanta Sports International Stadium and reviewed ongoing work at Kasarani Stadium.
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President Ruto assured CAF of Kenya’s commitment to delivering a successful tournament.
Speaking to journalists after the inspection tour, Motsepe expressed confidence in the three host nations, while acknowledging that some areas needed improvement.
“I’m very confident. I want to focus on the positives and what is encouraging: the good work I have seen,” he said.
The CAF president acknowledged “challenges, shortcomings, weaknesses, and failures” in certain aspects of the preparations, particularly at Kasarani Stadium, but maintained that the issues could be addressed before the tournament.
Another CAF inspection mission is expected in January 2027 and is likely to provide a clearer indication of whether preparations across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania remain on schedule ahead of the tournament.
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