CAF President Patrice Motsepe (left) during a meeting with President William Ruto after a meeting at State House on September 18, 2026/PCSConfederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has expressed confidence that Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will successfully host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations despite areas of preparation that still require accelerated progress.
Motsepe said there would be no alternative plan for the tournament, as the three East African countries work together to complete infrastructure and other requirements ahead of the continental competition scheduled for June and July next year.
“There is no Plan B, there is no Plan C, there never will be a Plan B, there never will be a Plan C,” Motsepe said in Tanzania on Thursday.
The CAF president spoke as he continued an inspection tour of the three host countries to assess their readiness for AFCON 2027.
Motsepe said CAF would work closely with Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to address areas where preparations were behind schedule.
“We’re going to work together, and those areas where we are falling behind, we’ll correct them, we’ll fix them,” he said.
Motsepe said he was encouraged by reports on the progress of preparations and expressed increased confidence after receiving an extensive update on the work being undertaken.
“I’m even more confident after the extensive report I’ve received this morning, and the reports I continue to receive on an ongoing basis,” he said.
He said some areas would nevertheless need to move faster to ensure the required standards are achieved before the tournament.
“There are some areas where we need to accelerate our progress, and there are some areas where, as I said, we are falling behind,” Motsepe said.
President William Ruto and CAF President Patrice Motsepe with sports officials during a meeting at State House on September 18, 2026/PCS
Motsepe met President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi, on Friday during his assessment visit to Kenya, where he and his delegation inspected key facilities being prepared for the tournament.
The delegation toured the new Talanta Sports City Stadium and Kasarani Stadium, which is undergoing upgrades.
President Ruto said CAF had commended Kenya for the substantial work done at Talanta Sports City Stadium and the ongoing improvements at Kasarani.
Ruto said Kenya remained committed to ensuring that the infrastructure required for the tournament was completed on time and met the required standards.
“We are committed to showcasing a classic football bonanza for Africa and the world,” Ruto said.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya with CAF President Patrice Motsepe and other officials during an inspection tour of Talanta Stadium on September 18, 2026/COURTESY
He added that Kenyans would have an opportunity to demonstrate their passion for football when the tournament comes to the country.
Kenya is expected to host matches alongside Uganda and Tanzania under the joint East African bid for the 2027 AFCON.
Football Kenya Federation president Hussein Mohammed, who accompanied the CAF delegation during the inspection, said the visit covered key facilities, including the Raila Odinga International Stadium and Kasarani Stadium.
Mohammed said Motsepe had expressed confidence that the three countries could deliver a successful tournament.
“Kenya is ready. Kenya is rising. We are not just preparing to host a tournament; we are building a legacy of world-class infrastructure, youth empowerment, and national pride that will outlive AFCON 2027,” Mohammed said.
Motsepe said his next major assessment would be in January next year, when CAF will evaluate the final state of preparations.
“I’ll be back in January next year to do the final assessment,” he said.
He added that after the January assessment, his next visit to Tanzania would be for the start of the competition.
President William Ruto with CAF President Patrice Motsepe and other officials during a meeting at State House on September 18, 2026/PCS
The comments come as the three countries enter a critical phase of preparations, with stadium construction, renovations and related tournament infrastructure expected to be completed before the final CAF assessment.
The 2027 AFCON will be the first edition of the tournament to be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
