February 16 – African football supremo Patrice Motsepe has dismissed media reports that the next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) will be postponed until 2028.
Motsepe, the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), said the speculation over a postponement of the tournament as “totally unfounded” following a meeting of the governing body’s executive committee in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
In 2023, the East African trio of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania were named co-hosts of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, but media reports were that the three countries were facing doubts over their readiness for the 24-team tournament.
Last December, Motsepe announced that the Africa Cup of Nations will be staged every four years instead of every two years from 2028.
“I am enormously confident that we will succeed,” said Motsepe at a news conference. “Will there be challenges? Yes, there are always challenges. Let me repeat that there will be information in the media over the next few months that this stadium is not ready, the grass is not ready, or there are not enough hotels. We will fix those challenges. We are going to have a celebration.”
Last summer, Kenya staged the Africa Nations Championships (CHAN), a tournament for domestic-based players, but grappled with ticketing and security. The Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi has been closed for renovations.
The 2027 tournament was high on the agenda of the CAF executive committee on Friday in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
CAF has not yet announced the dates for the 2027 Afcon. It’s the first time the tournament returns to East Africa after Ethiopia staged the finals in 1976.
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