Leagues

🌍 East Africa

🇰🇪Kenyan Premier League🇹🇿Tanzania Ligi Kuu🇺🇬Uganda Premier League

Top Leagues

Premier LeaguePremier LeagueLa LigaLa LigaSerie ASerie ABundesligaBundesligaLigue 1Ligue 1
Powered by ScoreBat
PAMOJA! CAF Confirms AFCON 2027 June Kick-Off for East Africa
UPDATES

PAMOJA! CAF Confirms AFCON 2027 June Kick-Off for East Africa

By Boris Anditi•February 14, 2026

The dream of an East African football feast is officially a "go." Addressing the media following a high-level CAF Executive Committee meeting in Dar es Salaam on Friday, February 13, 2026, Dr. Patrice Motsepe emphatically dismissed reports that the tournament would be postponed or moved due to infrastructure concerns.

"Totally Unfounded"

Speculation had been mounting that the 36th edition of Africa's premier tournament might be pushed to 2028. Critics pointed to the rigorous construction timelines for stadiums like Nairobi’s Talanta Sports Stadium and Hoima City Stadium in Uganda. However, Motsepe was quick to set the record straight.

"I see a lot of media speculation... an allegation that I am here to tell Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania that I'm taking away the AFCON because they are not ready. That is totally unfounded," Motsepe declared. "The AFCON next year in East Africa is going to be enormously successful."

The "Pamoja" Timeline

The tournament, famously dubbed the "Pamoja Bid" (meaning "together" in Swahili), is tentatively scheduled to run from June 19 to July 18, 2027. This summer slot is designed to avoid the mid-season club-versus-country conflicts that have plagued previous editions held in January.

Fast Facts on AFCON 2027:

  • Host Cities: 10 cities across the three nations.
  • Venues: 12 stadiums, including the newly renovated Kasarani (Nairobi) and Benjamin Mkapa (Dar es Salaam).
  • Expansion: Motsepe hinted at plans to potentially expand the tournament to 28 teams in the future, though 2027 will stick to the current 24-team format.

A Regional Masterstroke

This marks the first time in history that three nations have united to host the showpiece event. It is also the first time the tournament returns to the CECAFA region since Ethiopia hosted it in 1976.

By confirming the June–July window, CAF has also navigated a potential scheduling conflict with the 2027 Kenyan General Election set for August. "We will be done by then," Motsepe reassured, noting that the football celebration would likely serve as a unifying force for the region before the political season reaches its peak.