Daily MirrorUG Sports Desk
DAR ES SALAAM/NAIROBI — Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Dr Patrice Motsepe has delivered a strong message of confidence in East Africa’s preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, insisting that the continental showpiece will remain in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
Motsepe made the assurance on Thursday, September 17, shortly after arriving in Tanzania for a high-level inspection of preparations for the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the three East African nations.
Responding to reports and speculation that CAF could consider an alternative host if preparations fell behind schedule, Motsepe said there would be “no Plan B”, maintaining that AFCON 2027 would go ahead in East Africa.
His comments came as CAF stepped up its monitoring of preparations, with infrastructure development now entering a crucial phase ahead of the tournament scheduled for June 19 to July 17, 2027.
Motsepe’s Tanzania mission
During his visit to Dar es Salaam, Motsepe inspected the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium and held meetings with senior government and football officials.
He also met Tanzania’s Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba before paying a courtesy visit to President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
During the meeting with President Samia, Motsepe briefed her on progress towards AFCON 2027 and conveyed condolences from CAF and its 54 Member Associations following the death of her husband.
President Samia reaffirmed Tanzania’s commitment to delivering a successful tournament.
The CAF president’s visit comes shortly after an eight-day CAF inspection mission that assessed facilities across Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
From Tanzania to Kenya
On Friday, Motsepe proceeded to Kenya, where he met government officials and inspected facilities being prepared for the tournament.
CAF had earlier identified the newly constructed 60,000-capacity Talanta Stadium in Nairobi, together with training facilities, hotels, airport facilities and other infrastructure, among the sites being assessed as part of Kenya’s preparations.
The purpose of Motsepe’s latest tour is not simply to inspect stadiums but to assess the wider tournament ecosystem — including accommodation, transport, safety and security, medical services, training grounds, broadcasting and other operational requirements.
CAF says the visits are intended to identify areas requiring additional attention and ensure that preparations remain aligned with its operational and infrastructure standards.
What it means for Uganda
While Motsepe’s latest two-day visit focused on Tanzania and Kenya, his message is significant for Uganda because the country remains one of the three PAMOJA 2027 hosts.
Uganda has been undertaking major sports infrastructure projects ahead of the tournament, including stadium and training-facility developments, while CAF continues to monitor preparations across all three countries.
In September, CAF completed an eight-day assessment covering key facilities in the three host nations, with its delegation examining stadiums, training grounds, accommodation, airports and other infrastructure.
The three governments have also committed themselves to accelerating infrastructure delivery and coordinating on issues such as security, medical preparedness, transport and movement of fans and officials.
CAF and the three host countries established the PAMOJA Oversight Committee earlier this year to provide strategic coordination and monitor preparations across Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
East Africa gets a vote of confidence
Motsepe’s latest statement provides a major boost to the PAMOJA project at a time when preparations are under intense scrutiny.
For Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, however, the message also comes with a responsibility: the remaining months must be used to complete outstanding infrastructure and ensure that all tournament requirements are met.
AFCON 2027 will be historic as the first edition of the continental championship to be jointly hosted by three countries, bringing the biggest football tournament in Africa back to East Africa for the first time in more than five decades.
With Motsepe now having personally visited Tanzania and Kenya, attention will remain firmly on the three host nations as the countdown to PAMOJA 2027 gathers pace.
