The Digest:
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee will meet in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Friday to take critical decisions regarding the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations. The WAFCON is scheduled to kick off in Morocco next month, but reports suggest the North African nation may withdraw as host, with South Africa ready to step in . Regarding AFCON 2027, doubts persist over the readiness of co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda to stage a 24-team tournament, potentially forcing a postponement until 2028 . CAF President Patrice Motsepe has previously expressed confidence the tournament will proceed as planned .
Key Points:
- A decision on Morocco's continued hosting of WAFCON 2026 will determine whether South Africa steps in with just weeks before kick-off.
- Postponing AFCON 2027 to 2028 would disrupt the planned switch to a four-year cycle and affect future tournament scheduling.
- East African co-hosts face infrastructure and security concerns, while alternative bids from South Africa and Botswana await clarity.
- This signals CAF's pragmatic approach to balancing tournament standards with development opportunities across the continent.
- The timing, with the WAFCON just weeks away and AFCON preparations lagging, demands urgent resolution.
Today's decisions will shape the immediate future of both tournaments, with implications for participating nations, broadcasters, and fans across Africa.
Sources: Punch, Citizen Digital, Vanguard, The Guardian
