CAF has officially announced the kick-off and final dates for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations amid rising concerns over readiness in co-host nations Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
In a press release, CAF said that the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON “PAMOJA” 2027 will begin on June 19, 2027, with the final set for July 17, 2027, while the venues for both matches will be announced later.
The confirmation comes after a recent report by French daily Le Monde raised concerns over delays in infrastructure and stadium readiness across the three countries.
The report previously said that Uganda is the most behind, with no stadium meeting CAF’s Category 4 standards, raising doubts over its ability to host matches.
Kenya has received a warning over delays despite plans for five stadiums, including Talanta Stadium now due in mid-2026 instead of end-2025, while Tanzania is considered as relatively on track with works progressing in line with requirements.
There were also reportedly contingency discussions within CAF, with Rwanda and South Africa seen as potential backup hosts if needed, especially after Morocco’s 2025 AFCON set new standards in organization, revenues, and attendance, raising expectations for future editions.
CAF stressed that the 2027 AFCON will build on the success of recent editions, including Morocco 2025 and Côte d’Ivoire 2023, which set records in revenue, sponsorship, and global broadcast reach, “reflecting the globally competitiveness and popularity of African football on the world stage.”
The 2027 AFCON edition will be the first time the tournament is hosted by three countries, giving CAF a major opportunity to reach more than 400 million people across East Africa.
CAF revealed that the draw for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers will take place on May 19, 2026.
A total of 48 teams, including the three co-hosts, will be split into 12 groups of four, with the top two from each group booking their place in the final tournament.
The qualifiers will be played across three FIFA international windows: September 21 to October 6, 2026; November 9 to 17, 2026; and March 22 to 30, 2027.
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