Patrice Motsepe, the president of the Confederation of African Football, announced that the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations would take place in the summer months. He made the statement after a Confederation of African Football executive meeting in Dar es Salaam on February 13, 2026.
Tournament Dates and Format
The Confederation of African Football set the tournament for June 19 to July 18, 2027. Twenty-four teams competed in the event, which marked the 36th edition of the competition. Additionally the organization planned twelve venues across ten host cities.
Motsepe indicated that qualifying matches would follow the 2026 World Cup. He stated, “It’s going to be enormously successful.”
Host Nations Confirmed
Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania co-hosted the tournament. Motsepe suggested Tanzania would stage the opening game. This arrangement represented the first time three nations jointly organized the Africa Cup of Nations.
Earlier reports raised doubts about the hosts’ readiness due to infrastructure issues. However Motsepe dismissed any changes and affirmed the plans. He explained, “I have a duty to develop football all over Africa… I’m confident that the Afcon in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda will be enormously successful.”
Shift to Quadrennial Cycle
The 2027 edition concluded the odd year scheduling. From 2028, the Confederation of African Football switched the tournament to a four-year cycle. Moreover Motsepe proposed expanding the field to 28 teams in future events.
The announcement aligned with efforts to avoid conflicts with global competitions. It also celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Africa Cup of Nations.
