CAF Considers Backup Hosts for AFCON 2027 Amid Kenya and Uganda Infrastructure Delays
CAF Reviews Backup Plans for AFCON 2027
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is investigating alternative hosting options for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations due to concerns over slow infrastructure progress in Kenya and Uganda. These two countries, along with Tanzania, are set to co-host the tournament from June 19 to July 17, 2027. Yet recent CAF inspections have uncovered significant delays in stadium readiness, lodging availability, and overall logistics.
Serious Delays Threaten East African Hosting
Reports from BSNSports.com.ng highlight that ongoing construction setbacks in Kenya and Uganda have put the planned event at risk. Key venues remain incomplete, while accommodation and transport infrastructure fall short of expectations. Such issues raise doubts about the ability of these nations to fulfill the requirements for this prestigious competition.
CAF Contacts Potential Replacement Hosts
According to French news outlet Le Monde, CAF has reached out to several countries as potential backups. Morocco, South Africa, and Algeria are among those considered, with Ivory Coast and Egypt also on the radar due to their established facilities and experience hosting major events. Despite these plans, CAF president Patrice Motsepe remains hopeful about the East African hosts but acknowledges that much work lies ahead.
A History of Relocating AFCON Hosts
This is not the first time CAF has shifted hosting rights because of preparation delays. Past changes include:
- 2013: Libya to South Africa
- 2015: Morocco to Equatorial Guinea
- 2017: Libya to Gabon
- 2019: Cameroon to Egypt
- 2025: Guinea replaced by Morocco
These examples illustrate CAF’s pattern of stepping in when original hosts struggle to meet deadlines.
Final Inspections and Pressure Mounting
CAF officials plan additional site visits in the upcoming months to evaluate progress. The 2027 edition carries special significance as it marks the tournament's return to the CECAFA region for the first time since Ethiopia 1976. Unless Kenya and Uganda accelerate their stadium work dramatically, the joint East African bid may be withdrawn in favor of a backup host.
