AFCON 2027: Motsepe Calls on East African Hosts to Uphold Morocco's Benchmarks

Following Morocco's triumphant organisation of the 2025 tournament, the 36th edition is slated for joint hosting by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from June 19th to July 18th.

This occasion will represent the debut for three East African countries in co-hosting Africa's premier football spectacle, and the initial such event in the CECAFA zone over the past five decades, after Ethiopia's staging in 1976.

In the 2025 event, Morocco introduced fresh benchmarks for tournament delivery, with Motsepe commenting post-competition that the North African nation had elevated expectations to impressive heights across the continent.

Morocco achieved a milestone by employing nine venues in six cities including Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakech, Agadir, and Fes for the 24-team competition, surpassing the customary six-stadium format.

The competition incorporated sophisticated arrangements such as high-speed rail connections between host locations, exclusive training facilities for each squad, and luxury five-star lodging.

Bearing these elements in mind, the CAF leader has urged Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania to ensure Morocco's benchmarks remain intact without the slightest reduction, expressing optimism that the 2027 tournament will prove equally triumphant.

‘East Africa Faces Elevated Expectations’

“You see, Morocco has raised the standard. It has raised the standard, and I'm not just happy, I’m proud of that. So, the next AFCON, you have a high standard to come up to and to maintain,” Motsepe remarked, as cited by Pulse Sports.

“That’s why I took the Exco to Tanzania after the AFCON to say to them, I have confidence in you and we’re going to work together and make a change because I need to develop football in East Africa.

“I need to develop football throughout the continent in every single one of the zones in Africa, in every single one of the 54 nations in Africa.”

The Moroccan tournament recorded unprecedented ticket revenues and introduced official Fan Parks offering complimentary entry, reinforcing the “We Are Different” motif. In total, it delivered notable commercial gains, including a reported 90% increase in tournament earnings and drawing 23 sponsors.

To support a prosperous East African edition, Motsepe announced an upcoming trip to Kenya for discussions with the national leader, during which he plans to evaluate facilities.

Motsepe Plans Kenya Visit

“I'll be going to Kenya. There's a meeting of heads of state, and I wasn't going to go there because there was a conflict on that date. But when some of the heads of state asked me to be there, I had no choice but to rearrange and be in Kenya on May 12,” Motsepe explained.

“I’m going to use that visit to look at the infrastructure. There’s a team from CAF that is based in East Africa, because you know, in life, you reap what you sow, you work very hard, you succeed.

“You are paranoid and obsessed with success, you increase the chances of success, and we are very clear about the very high standards we set for ourselves, so I’m clear that we’re going to succeed there in Tanzania, in Kenya and Uganda.”

The 2027 event will coincide with AFCON's 70th anniversary and serve as the final edition in odd-numbered years, following CAF's December 2025 declaration that AFCON will shift to a quadrennial schedule starting in 2028.

This AFCON hosting follows the trio's collaboration on the 2024 African Nations Championship in February 2025. Morocco secured a 3-2 victory over Madagascar in the decider, securing their third CHAN crown within six years.