Morocco and a joint bid by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda have been selected to host the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027. This marks Morocco's return to hosting the tournament, having last done so in 1988. They were initially chosen as hosts for the 2025 edition but had to postpone due to the Ebola virus. Later, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) revoked Morocco's hosting rights.
The surprise withdrawal of Algeria from the 2027 host race opened up the competition, ultimately leading to the selection of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda as hosts. The Algerian football federation cited a new strategy for developing football in Algeria as the reason for their withdrawal.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe expressed his pride in Morocco's successful bid, noting that competing countries like Algeria, Zambia, and Nigeria-Benin had withdrawn their bids in support of Morocco's candidacy for the 2030 World Cup, in collaboration with Spain and Portugal.
Morocco boasts world-class stadiums and a track record of successfully hosting various African and international football tournaments. In contrast, Kenya and Tanzania have one international-standard venue each, and Uganda currently has none, necessitating their national team to play qualifiers at neutral venues for the 2023 Cup of Nations.
Motsepe emphasized that one of the key objectives of this decision is to promote the development of infrastructure and stadiums, inspiring enthusiasm among young people in the region.
While the decision to host the AFCON in East Africa goes against Motsepe's earlier statement about not having successive tournaments in the same region, CAF's secretary general, Veron Mosengo-Omba, clarified that due to limited host candidates, regional rotation may not always be possible.
In 2023, Ivory Coast will host the Cup of Nations, which has been rescheduled to January and February 2024 to avoid the rainy season in West Africa. Motsepe acknowledged that the timing is not ideal, as it falls in the middle of the European club season, affecting players like Mohamed Salah, Andre Onana, and Victor Osimhen, who will have to leave their clubs to participate.
The Africa Cup of Nations has evolved from a three-team tournament in Sudan in 1957 to a 24-team event since 2019, attracting a global TV audience. Egypt leads with seven titles, including a three-year streak from 2006. Cameroon has won five times, and Ghana is a four-time champion.
The next edition will feature the top 16 African countries in the latest FIFA rankings, led by 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco, and will take place in five Ivorian cities.