With just a year to go, the Confederation of African Football has issued a serious warning to the three host countries of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
While the competition dates have recently been confirmed — from June 19 to July 18, 2027 — the reassuring public statements contrast sharply with deep internal concerns.
Delays and shortcomings highlighted
According to a document sent this week to the trio of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, CAF mentions “delays and deficiencies” in the preparations.
In Kenya, the delivery of the Talanta Stadium in Nairobi has been pushed back from late 2025 to July 2026 at best, with no guarantee that this new timeline will be met.
In Uganda, construction is also lagging behind, both for the Hoima City Stadium and for the renovation of the Mandela National Stadium, also known as Namboole.
🚨 CAF REPORT: KENYA NOT READY FOR AFCON 2027… YET 🚨
A new report from Confederation of African Football reveals that none of Kenya’s stadiums currently meet the required standards to host AFCON matches.
Kasarani Stadium – Needs major upgrades including pitch, lighting,… pic.twitter.com/HHWQo4wWVb
— Micky Jnr (@MickyJnr__) March 26, 2026
Stadiums still not compliant
CAF is particularly harsh on Uganda: none of the proposed stadiums fully meet the category 4 requirements, which is the highest level of certification from the organization.
In Tanzania, the situation seems less alarming. However, coordinating accommodation and transport infrastructure among the three nations remains a major challenge.
A persistent threat
During the visit to Nairobi by CAF’s interim secretary general, Samson Adamu, Kenyan Sports Minister Salim Mvurya announced a meeting scheduled for next week to unlock several politically crucial decisions.
Kenya has already lost the chance to host the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996 and the African Nations Championship in 2018. Now, the threat of losing the hosting rights again looms over the East African trio.
