CAF president Patrice Motsepe acknowledged on Wednesday that next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals will face hurdles, but insisted the tournament to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda is set to be a major triumph.
Motsepe did not detail the specific problems, though preparations in Kenya have drawn scrutiny in recent years—particularly around stadium readiness.
In May, government officials said the new Talanta Sports City stadium in Nairobi, a 60,000-seat venue, is progressing as planned, alongside work at the Moi International Sports Centre, which holds 48,000 spectators after renovations.
Speaking at a press conference in Johannesburg, Motsepe urged patience and resilience in the face of setbacks.
“We have to have confidence in our people despite the challenges and sometimes there will be failures, but we have to get up and go again,” Motsepe said.
He added that, regardless of difficulties, the East Africa edition of the competition should deliver on its promise.
“But the Cup of Nations in East Africa will be an enormous success. There are some challenges but I’m proud with the work of the heads of state of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are doing,” Motsepe said.
The finals are scheduled for 2027, with the following edition set for 2028. From that point onward, the continental championship will move to a four-year cycle instead of being held every two years.
Motsepe also said CAF has opened the bidding process for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 Africa Cup of Nations, describing the submissions as “exciting” while offering no further breakdown.
The 2027 tournament will run from June 19 to July 17, though CAF has not yet revealed which venues will host the matches.
Qualification for the 24-team finals begins in September and is due to finish in March.
