The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for June 19 to July 17, 2027, in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, faces uncertainty due to infrastructure delays. A recent inspection tour by Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe revealed progress concerns, particularly in Kenya and Uganda. Despite these challenges, Motsepe stated that no alternative plans, or "Plan B" or "Plan C," have been finalized.
According to Saïd Ali Saïd Athouman, president of the Comoros Football Federation, five African nations have the necessary infrastructure to host the tournament on short notice. These countries include Algeria, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, and Côte d'Ivoire. Algeria boasts several modern and approved stadiums, including those that have recently hosted international competitions.
Algeria's potential to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations is significant due to its existing infrastructure. The country has seven approved stadiums, with notable venues such as the Nelson-Mandela Stadium in Algiers, the Miloud-Hadefi Stadium in Oran, and the Chahid-Hamlaoui Stadium in Constantine. These stadiums have successfully hosted competitions, including the 2022 African Nations Championship.
Despite being mentioned as a possible alternative host, Algeria has not expressed interest in submitting a bid or taking over the tournament organization. The Algerian football authorities prefer to focus on developing their domestic football. This stance may disappoint some fans, considering Algeria's passion for football and its previous hosting experience in 1990.
The 1990 Africa Cup of Nations, held in Algeria, saw the host team win the trophy. Since then, Algeria has made several unsuccessful bids to host the tournament. In 2023, Algeria withdrew its bids for the 2025 and 2027 editions on the eve of the host country announcement. The country's capability to host a continental competition was demonstrated during the 2022 African Nations Championship.
CAF has reportedly approached Morocco, South Africa, and Algeria, which have 16, 13, and seven approved stadiums, respectively. Egypt and Côte d'Ivoire, the host of the 2023 edition, are also considered capable of taking over the organization. Patrice Motsepe is scheduled to conduct another inspection visit in January 2027.
The coming months will determine whether the current concerns about Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania's hosting capabilities dissipate or if an alternative host is chosen. For now, the three countries remain in charge of organizing the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Algeria's potential to host the tournament remains a topic of discussion, although no official decision or bid has been made.
Key points
- Algeria has the infrastructure to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, with seven approved stadiums.
- The country has previously hosted the tournament in 1990 and has experience organizing continental competitions.
- Algeria has not expressed interest in submitting a bid or taking over the tournament organization.
