CAF president Patrice Motsepe has expressed optimism about the 2027 <a href="https://absafricatv.com/africa-cotton-to-cloth-the-story-africa-has-always-needed-to-tell/” title=”Africa: Cotton to Cloth – The Story Africa Has Always Needed to Tell”>Africa Cup of Nations being hosted in East Africa, despite acknowledging that several challenges still need to be addressed.
Speaking at a press conference in Johannesburg, Motsepe encouraged confidence in his team, acknowledged the possibility of setbacks, and emphasized the importance of moving forward. According to L’Équipe, he did not elaborate on specific concerns.
The 2027 finals are scheduled to take place from 19 June to 17 July, with Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda set to co-host the tournament for the first time. Motsepe also commended the efforts of the heads of state in the three countries.
Stadium readiness remains a subject of scrutiny, with Nairobi’s 60,000-seat Talanta Stadium currently under construction and the Moi International Sports Centre, which has a capacity of 48,000, undergoing renovation. However, CAF has yet to confirm the tournament venues.
Qualifying for the tournament is set to begin in September and is scheduled to conclude in March, with 24 teams ultimately qualifying for the finals. Notably, this will be the last edition of the tournament in its current format, as it will transition to a four-year cycle, with the 37th edition scheduled for 2028. Bids for the 2028, 2032, and 2036 tournaments are currently open, and Motsepe stated that the early applications have been encouraging.
