AFCON 2027: CAF Back Kenya, Uganda & Tanzania to Set New Tournament Record Beyond Morocco

Confederation of African Football acting secretary-general Samson Adamu has expressed confidence that Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania can deliver one of the most successful editions of the Africa Cup of Nations in the competition’s history when they co-host in 2027.

Currently, Morocco is widely regarded as the benchmark, with CAF president Patrice Motsepe praising its edition as the most successful to date. However, Adamu believes the East African trio has the potential to surpass that achievement.

Morocco’s tournament stood out for its unprecedented commercial growth, advanced infrastructure, and record-breaking fan engagement, setting new standards for hosting on the continent.

Notably, it delivered a 90% increase in revenue compared to previous editions, raising the bar for future tournaments.

Speaking during a high-profile CAF meeting in Kampala, Uganda, Samson Adamu said that their main aim was to ensure all stakeholders were fully coordinated on key areas such as priorities, structure, and timelines for delivering the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, building on the momentum of the highly successful edition staged in Morocco.

Adamu explained that particular emphasis has been placed on maximising the potential of the tournament, noting that the joint hosting by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania offers a rare opportunity to raise the bar even higher.

He indicated that CAF’s ambition is not only to deliver a strong competition but to elevate the tournament to unprecedented levels, potentially exceeding the standards set by Morocco.

He added that CAF is keen to use the tournament as a platform to highlight the continent’s capabilities on a global stage, pointing out that there was a strong ambition to set new standards for success.

Adamu further revealed that there was firm backing and dedication from the governments of the three host nations, which has created a stable and reassuring environment for preparations.

He expressed confidence that, given the current level of organisation and commitment, the hosts are well-positioned to deliver a high-quality and memorable competition.

“Our objective is to make sure that we align on the priorities, the framework, and the timeline of the execution of the AFCON Pamoja 2027, coming off a very successful AFCON in Morocco. We should focus on this AFCON because it will be amazing, with three amazing hosts,” Adamu shared.

“We want to show the world what Africa can do. We want this to be the most successful AFCON, and I can confirm that we have the strongest level of commitment from the governments of the three countries. We are in a very comfortable place, and we are very confident we can deliver a great competition.”

Samson Adamu further explained that organising the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations was a gradual and demanding process for any host nation, noting that efforts were firmly focused on keeping preparations on schedule.

He emphasised that CAF was taking a cautious and well-managed approach to avoid any situation that could jeopardise progress, while maintaining a strong belief in a positive outcome.

He added that continuous engagement will be maintained through frequent coordination meetings, alongside the deployment of dedicated personnel to be stationed in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania to support implementation and ensure deadlines are met.

“It’s a journey for any nation to deliver, and we are working to ensure those timelines are respected. We have no plan for getting to a point of no return, and we believe the tournament is going to be successful. We are going to have regular meetings,” he said.

“We have people who will be permanently based in the three countries to help them meet the deadlines. It’ll be a shame if I don’t make sure this tournament is successful; there is no room for failure.”