Africa Cup of Nations 2027 could be moved to Christmas and New Year

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) continues to publicly insist that the tournament will take place in the three countries from 19 June to 17 July next year.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe repeated that message at a strategic conference in Cape Verde last week, saying: “We will go to Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.” He also promised “the most successful Africa Cup of Nations”.

However, privately, the governing body is increasingly concerned about the slow progress of construction and organisational work in the three host nations, known collectively as the “Pamoja” countries, with less than 10 months remaining before the tournament begins.

Motsepe acknowledged the seriousness of the situation shortly before the qualifying campaign started. He conceded that “there was a situation of great urgency, nine months before the Africa Cup of Nations”.

According to Le Monde, CAF has sounded out five countries that could stage the competition at short notice if the 2027 hosts are unable to meet the required standards.

Those countries are Morocco, which will host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, South Africa and Egypt.

A change to the tournament schedule is also reportedly being considered. The Guardian says CAF officials have discussed delaying the competition until the Christmas and New Year period, as happened with the previous edition, which was played across December and January.

The possibility of a winter switch would offer additional time for the three current hosts to complete their preparations, although CAF has not publicly abandoned its commitment to holding the tournament in the summer.

One of the most significant concerns is in Nairobi, where the Talanta Sports Stadium has still not been completed.

Motsepe is due to make another inspection visit in January 2027. With preparations continuing to fall behind schedule, that trip could become a crucial assessment of whether Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania remain capable of hosting the tournament as planned.

For now, CAF’s public position remains unchanged: the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be staged in the three East African countries from 19 June to 17 July. But the reported discussions over alternative hosts and a possible move to the end-of-year period underline the growing uncertainty surrounding the event.

Source:Fiilasports/ghanasoccernet