THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) has chosen Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda as the joint hosts for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals. This announcement was made by CAF president Patrice Motsepe during the executive committee meeting held in Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday.
This marks the first time in the tournament’s history that the biennial football extravaganza will be hosted in East Africa. The decision reflects the growing enthusiasm and commitment of the region to showcase this premier sporting event.
Motsepe expressed his excitement about the upcoming tournament, stating, ‘The 2027 edition is going to be beautiful. The commitment and drive demonstrated by the three presidents of these countries highlight the eagerness of the region to host this event.’
The joint bid was presented to the CAF Executive Committee by the sports ministers of the three East African nations: Ababu Namwamba (Kenya), Damas Ndumbaro (Tanzania), and Peter Ogwang (Uganda). Their collaborative effort successfully secured the hosting rights.
The decision to award the hosting rights to Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda comes after a competitive bidding process. Notably, it prevailed over bids from renowned AFCON winners Egypt, current titleholders Senegal, as well as Botswana. Algeria, another strong contender, withdrew from the race earlier this week.
The upcoming 2027 AFCON is expected to not only provide an outstanding showcase of African football talent but also create a platform for East Africa to demonstrate its capability in organizing and hosting major sporting events. This landmark decision has generated great anticipation for a memorable and successful tournament.