CAF Explores Alternative Hosts for 2027 AFCON as Kenya and Uganda Face Doubts

The Confederation of African Football is looking into backup options for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations amid growing concern that co-hosts Kenya and Uganda won't be ready in time, according to BSNSports.com.ng.

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are currently scheduled to co-host the tournament between June 19 and July 17, 2027, but recent inspections by CAF flagged serious issues, including unfinished stadiums, insufficient accommodation and broader logistical concerns across the region.

According to French outlet Le Monde, CAF has already reached out to Morocco, South Africa and Algeria as possible standby hosts, with Ivory Coast and Egypt also being considered given their existing infrastructure. CAF president Patrice Motsepe has publicly said he remains confident in the East African hosts, while acknowledging there is still plenty of work left to do.

This wouldn't be new territory for CAF, which has switched hosts on several occasions in recent tournament cycles. The competition moved from Libya to South Africa in 2013, from Morocco to Equatorial Guinea in 2015, from Libya to Gabon in 2017, and from Cameroon to Egypt in 2019. Guinea was also replaced by Morocco as host for the 2025 edition, continuing CAF's long history of stepping in when host preparations fall behind.

CAF officials are expected to carry out further inspections over the coming months before making a final call on whether to strip Kenya and Uganda of hosting duties. The stakes are high, with the 2027 tournament marking the first time AFCON returns to the CECAFA region since Ethiopia hosted in 1976, and also serving as the competition's last edition on a two-year cycle. Unless Kenya and Uganda significantly speed up stadium construction, their joint hosting dream could still be taken away and handed to one of the standby nations.