CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe has firmly dismissed growing speculation regarding potential postponement of the 2027 Pamoja Africa Cup of Nations in Kenya , Tanzania and Uganda.
Speaking during a press conference following the Executive Committee meeting in Dar es Salaam on Friday, Motsepe reiterated his unwavering confidence that the co-hosting trio of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda will deliver a successful tournament on schedule.
Addressing recent media reports that suggested the tournament might be pushed to 2028 due to infrastructure concerns, Dr. Motsepe labeled the rumors as baseless.
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CAF President Patrice Motsepe downplays AFCON 2027 postponement news
“I am here to tell Tanzania and Kenya and Uganda that I’m taking away the AFCON because our three countries are not going to be ready? That’s totally unfounded. You know, sometimes I say certain things and the media just either say something totally opposite or, like in this context, that I am enormously confident that we will succeed,” Motsepe stated.
The CAF chief acknowledged the logistical hurdles in such a massive undertaking but urged the continent to maintain faith in its capabilities.
“Will there be challenges? There are always challenges. I had a big, big challenge in Cameroon soon after I became president. I was told by people whose views I respect that Cameroon is not ready, you have to take it away, and they recommended a number of countries which were ready because they had the infrastructure. But we have to believe in ourselves as Africans,” he added.
Dr Motsepe further emphasized the urgency of the preparations, noting that there is no time to waste as the countdown to the historic East African edition begins.
The tournament, which marks the first time three nations will co-host the event, is officially scheduled to take place between June and July 2027. While specific dates are expected to be finalized soon, current reports indicate the showpiece will run from June 19 to July 18, 2027.