CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe has ruled out any possibility of Tanzania being replaced as a host of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations despite concerns over the country’s readiness.
Tanzania will co-host the tournament with Kenya and Uganda, but questions have been raised about whether some of the required infrastructure will be completed in time.
Motsepe said he had previously been advised that Tanzania might not be ready to stage the competition and that CAF should consider alternative plans.
However, he dismissed those suggestions, insisting that CAF remains committed to the three-nation hosting arrangement.
“From CAF’s perspective and personally, there is never going to be Plan B or Plan C, and never will there be,” Motsepe said.
The South African administrator also urged caution over negative reports about Tanzania’s preparations, saying some of the information circulating in the media was inaccurate.
He acknowledged that some areas of preparation need to be accelerated but said CAF would continue working with the Tanzanian authorities and other stakeholders to ensure the necessary facilities are delivered.
“We have to work together with Tanzania to make sure that whatever areas need to be accelerated, we accelerate them and make sure that we are ready for a successful AFCON,” he said.
Motsepe said he had received detailed reports on the state of preparations and remained confident in Tanzania’s ability to meet the requirements of hosting the continent’s biggest football tournament.
CAF has deployed a 21-member expert delegation across Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda to oversee preparations, with some members permanently based in the three countries.
The delegation is assessing key areas including stadiums, training facilities, pitches and other tournament infrastructure.
Motsepe stressed that the successful delivery of the tournament will require close cooperation between CAF, the host governments, football associations and local organising committees.
The CAF president is scheduled to return to Tanzania in January 2027 for a final assessment of the country’s preparations.
The 2027 AFCON will be the first edition of the tournament to be jointly hosted by three countries, with Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda sharing responsibilities.
For now, Motsepe says there is no alternative hosting plan, with Tanzania expected to continue its preparations with CAF support ahead of the tournament.
