The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is reportedly planning to postpone the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from its original June–July 2027 schedule to 2028.
The decision is expected to be deliberated at an emergency meeting of CAF’s Executive Committee on Friday, February 13, 2026, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A press conference is scheduled to follow the meeting.
The 2027 tournament was awarded to Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania under the joint “Pamoja 2027” bid, making it the first AFCON to be co-hosted by three countries. The event is planned for ten host cities across the three nations with a 24-team format.
Two primary reasons are driving the proposed delay:
1. Infrastructure readiness concerns – Technical inspection teams from CAF visited the host countries this week to evaluate progress toward meeting tournament standards. While Kenya has reported that the 60,000-capacity Talanta Sports Stadium is over 80 per cent complete and on track for handover by March 2026, doubts persist about the overall preparedness of venues and supporting facilities across the region.
2. CAF calendar reforms – The continental body is considering a shift to a four-year AFCON cycle starting from 2028, alongside the introduction of an annual African Nations League from 2029. Postponing 2027 to 2028 would align the flagship tournament with this new scheduling framework.
If approved, the tournament would likely move to a December 2028 window to avoid overlapping with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and the expanded FIFA Club World Cup.
Social media reports, including a post by journalist Eric Njiru, have amplified speculation about the postponement ahead of Friday’s crucial ExCo meeting.
A formal announcement from CAF is anticipated shortly after the Dar es Salaam discussions conclude.
The potential shift has sparked debate about its impact on African football, including whether the introduction of an annual African Nations League would strengthen the continent’s game or risk player overload and fixture congestion.
