DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AP) – The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be held in Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya as originally planned, the African Football Confederation president announced Friday.
Speaking after a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee, Patrice Motsepe said the tournament would be held in June or July, or both, and that CAF would soon announce the exact dates.
Motsepe mentioned several issues, including the hosting of last month’s Africa Cup in Morocco and the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held again next month.
Motsepe said the women’s tournament would be held as scheduled from March 17 to April 3, denying reports that Morocco wanted to withdraw from hosting the tournament for the third time in a row after South Africa offered to host it.
“Morocco came to our aid. There were many countries that wanted to host it, but they didn’t have the time, so our standards were very high,” Motsepe said.
“As we speak, we still have an agreement with Morocco. Some other countries are saying, ‘We’d love to host it.'” But they want to change the date. As it is one of the Women’s World Cup qualifiers, the date cannot be changed. So WAFCON will continue and we will definitely hold it within that period. ”
British newspaper The Guardian reported on Thursday that the 2027 Africa Cup has been canceled and that Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya will host the 2028 tournament instead, but Motsepe said the report was false.
“There was a suspicion that I was here to tell Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda that I would take away AFCON because our three countries are not ready. That is totally unfounded,” Motsepe said.
“AFCON, to be held in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda next year, will be a huge success… East Africa will emerge as the continent’s premier football powerhouse.”
If the three East African countries are able to host the 2027 Games, it will be the first time since 2013, when the Games were not rescheduled due to host country issues.
Motsepe expressed his “deep gratitude” to Morocco for hosting “the most successful AFCON in the history of the competition”, but also expressed his disappointment with the tournament. The commotion that ruined the final matcha fight on the field between stewards and Senegalese fans and the Senegalese team leaving the field.
“It’s very embarrassing. Something like that should never happen again. It will never happen. This is a stain on our good AFCON,” Motsepe said.
He said he could not comment on the disciplinary proceedings against the Senegalese and Moroccan federations, but suggested: Morocco is appealing $415,000 fine The match ban will likely be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Senegal won the final 1-0.
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