AFCON 2027 faces uncertainty as host nations fall behind on infrastructure

Preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations face growing uncertainty, with Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania falling behind on infrastructure commitments around 13 months before kickoff, according to a CAF inspection report cited by French daily Le Monde.

The report found construction progress across the three co-hosts lagging behind agreed timelines, with delays affecting stadium readiness and supporting facilities, raising concerns over their ability to meet tournament requirements.

Uganda appears most at risk, with no stadium currently meeting CAF’s Category 4 standards required to host major matches, casting doubt on its capacity to stage fixtures of Afcon scale.

Kenya has committed to delivering five stadiums, including three in Nairobi, but has received a formal warning over delays, notably at Talanta Stadium, now expected mid-2026 instead of end-2025. Tanzania is seen as relatively on track, with works progressing in line with CAF technical requirements.

Contingency discussions have begun within CAF, with Rwanda and South Africa monitoring developments as potential replacement hosts if the current arrangement fails.

CAF awarded hosting rights to the three countries on April 7, 2023, marking the first joint bid in the tournament’s history. The previous edition in Morocco set new benchmarks for organization, revenues and attendance, raising expectations for future hosts.