The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), to be jointly hosted by Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, will be staged at the highest international standards.
CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe made the announcement today in Dar es Salaam, following the CAF Executive Committee meeting.
He stressed that early and meticulous planning is the key to delivering a successful tournament, even amid infrastructure challenges in some host nations.
“The success of AFCON 2025 in Morocco proves that careful preparation pays off,” Motsepe said. “We are confident that the partnership between the three host countries will elevate the quality and prestige of AFCON 2027.”
Motsepe highlighted East Africa’s opportunity to shine, noting that CAF intends to use the tournament as a platform to nurture and showcase regional talent, enabling the region to compete on equal footing with West and Southern Africa.
He added that the CAF Executive Committee will closely monitor all preparations to ensure every aspect meets global standards.
The CAF President also thanked Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan for her commitment to sports infrastructure development and praised the leaders of Uganda and Kenya for their support in co-hosting the tournament.
Motsepe expressed gratitude to CAF’s 54 member associations for their cooperation in AFCON 2025, emphasizing that stadium quality and fan engagement are essential pillars for a successful tournament.
On refereeing issues from previous AFCON editions, Motsepe said CAF has begun reviewing and strengthening its rules and regulations to enhance referee accountability, including VAR operations.
The reforms aim to better reflect the severity of fouls, ensure fairness, and uphold the integrity of the game.
“The goal is to protect the spirit of football, improve decision-making, and enhance training, evaluation, and supervision of referees and match officials ahead of future tournaments,” he concluded.