Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), confirmed the continental federation’s commitment to holding the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in East African countries (Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda) as planned, putting an end to doubts that had arisen about the readiness of these countries, especially after the high organizational standards imposed by the Kingdom of Morocco in hosting recent football events.
Morocco raises global expectations
In a press statement from the capital, Rabat, Motsepe acknowledged that Morocco's resounding success in organizing continental tournaments has raised expectations to unprecedented levels. On the eve of the continental final, he said, "This is the most successful edition in history, both in terms of the world-class technical level of football and the quality of the stadiums and infrastructure." This praise comes as Morocco prepares for the historic event of co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal, making it a model to be emulated across the African continent.
The spirit returns to the east of the continent after a long absence
The hosting of the 2027 edition by the trio (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) is of great strategic and historical importance, as it will be the first time the tournament has returned to the East African region since Ethiopia hosted the 1976 edition. This decision represents a fundamental shift in CAF’s policy, which aims not to confine the game to countries that have ready infrastructure, but to use the tournament as a tool to accelerate development in other regions.
Motsepe emphasized this approach, saying: "Part of leadership is making tough decisions. My duty is to develop football throughout Africa, and I cannot confine the game to only the ready countries. I am confident of the success of the tournament in the east of the continent and we will not take the organization away from them.".
Developmental and economic dimensions of the event
Hosting the tournament in East Africa is expected to provide a significant economic boost to these countries, accelerating infrastructure projects such as stadiums, roads, and hotels, as well as revitalizing their renowned tourism sector. The three nations hosted the African Nations Championship (CHAN) last year, a preliminary test of their readiness, although it was postponed for several months to allow for the completion of construction work.
Controversy surrounding the new tournament system
In a related context, Motsepe touched on the potential structural changes to the tournament system, pointing to the shift towards holding the competition every four years instead of the current system (every two years) that has been in place since 1957. The CAF president stressed that this decision stems from a purely African will and not in response to pressure from European clubs or FIFA, explaining: "We as Africans must free ourselves from the idea that our decisions are dictated by Europe or FIFA, although there are times that call for making concessions for the greater good.".
