Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has firmly dismissed calls to relocate the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, saying concerns over infrastructure should not be used to deny countries the opportunity to develop through football.
Motsepe spoke on Saturday, January 17, during a press conference in Morocco after being questioned by Ivorian journalist Mamadou Gaye, who raised doubts about East Africa’s readiness to host the continent’s premier football tournament.
Gaye criticised the region’s transport infrastructure, warning that road networks between the three host nations could complicate team travel during the competition.
“The next AFCON is heading to three East African countries where I have been,” Gaye said.
“No roads connecting the countries. Some of my colleagues from East Africa told me that moving from one country to another could take two days. Are we going to lower standards by going to East Africa?”
In response, Motsepe stressed that CAF remains committed to using football as a tool for continental development, warning that restricting major tournaments to traditionally established hosts would entrench inequality.
“You’ve got to create opportunities for all African countries to develop infrastructure,” Motsepe said. “I am confident that the AFCON will be successful. I know there will be challenges.”
He insisted that CAF had no intention of stripping the tournament from the East African hosts, saying logistical hurdles are part of the planning process for any major global competition.
“We are not going to take the competition away from those countries because I am convinced it will be successful,” he added.
Motsepe pointed to the African Nations Championship (CHAN), which Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania jointly hosted in August 2025, as evidence that the region can successfully deliver continental tournaments.
“That’s why I wanted CHAN to take place in those countries,” Motsepe said. “It gave them the chance to develop, and it showed they can organise major competitions.”
CAF officials have previously indicated that CHAN served as a test event under the “Pamoja” joint bid, allowing host nations to assess stadium readiness, security coordination, transport logistics, and cross-border movement protocols ahead of AFCON 2027.
The CAF president argued that infrastructure challenges are not exclusive to Africa or developing regions, drawing parallels with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
“Even the World Cup co-hosted by the USA and Mexico will face challenges,” Motsepe said. “Planning for logistics is part of organising any major tournament.”
The 2027 AFCON will be the first edition of the competition to be jointly hosted by three countries, with matches spread across Nairobi, Kampala, Dar es Salaam, and other designated cities.
Motsepe also reiterated CAF’s long-term reforms to the AFCON calendar, confirming that the tournament will shift from a biennial to a four-year cycle.
Under the revised schedule, the 2025 AFCON was hosted by Morocco, followed by the 2027 East Africa edition.
CAF will then stage a transitional ‘bridge’ tournament in 2028, with the host yet to be announced, before fully adopting the quadrennial format from 2032.
Motsepe said the changes were agreed upon after consultations with FIFA, aimed at resolving persistent scheduling conflicts, particularly with European club competitions.
Governments in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania have pledged major investments in stadium upgrades, road networks, airports, and hospitality infrastructure ahead of 2027, positioning the tournament as a catalyst for regional integration and economic growth.
CAF maintains that the successful delivery of AFCON 2027 would mark a historic milestone for East African football and reinforce the continent’s commitment to inclusive development through sport.