The Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football met last Friday and made important decisions for the development of African football, notably regarding the dates for the next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), which will be held in June and July in three countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The meeting also discussed the possibility of increasing the number of participating teams from 24 to 28, although no details were given about the 2028 African tournament.
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will take place in June and July, confirmed the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe.
The leader of the governing body of African football also denied rumors about a possible postponement or change of dates, calling them completely unfounded.
The competition, which will be jointly organized by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, has raised doubts about the readiness of the necessary infrastructure in the three East African countries.
However, Motsepe expressed optimism during a press conference in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, last Friday, following a meeting of the CAF executive committee, which was attended by Faizal Sidat, president of the Mozambican Football Federation and 5th vice-president of CAF.
Despite these statements, a postponement would be welcomed by Nicholas Musonye. The president of the Kenyan local organizing committee told AFP on Thursday that a postponement of the next edition of the CAN to 2028 would be acceptable.
It should be recalled that CAF committed, from 2019 onwards, to holding the CAN in the middle of the calendar year, but the last three editions ended up taking place around January.
Holding the tournament in the middle of the European club season has generated conflicts over the release of players. Furthermore, from 2028 onwards, the competition will be held every four years instead of biannually.
The CAF president did not provide details about the bids for the 2028 edition, but expressed a desire to expand the tournament from 24 to 28 teams in the future.
