Patrice Motsepe has lauded Morocco’s transformative role in African football, declaring that the North African nation has significantly elevated the standards of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). His remarks come as preparations intensify for future editions of the continent’s flagship tournament.
Speaking on the legacy of recent tournaments, the Confederation of African Football president emphasized that Morocco has set a benchmark that must not only be maintained but surpassed. “Morocco has raised the AFCON standards very, very high. The next tournament must go even higher and we must maintain that level going forward,” Motsepe stated.
Turning his attention to the next edition, Motsepe expressed strong confidence in East Africa’s readiness to host the 2027 tournament. He revealed that he recently led members of the CAF Executive Committee to Tanzania as a demonstration of his belief in the region’s capacity to deliver a world-class competition.
The 2027 AFCON will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda—a historic collaboration that signals CAF’s commitment to expanding football development across the continent. Motsepe reaffirmed that CAF will work closely with the host nations to ensure infrastructure, organization, and overall tournament delivery meet the highest standards.
“I have no doubt in my mind that we will succeed in delivering a successful 2027 AFCON,” he said, underlining optimism that East Africa will rise to the challenge and build on the foundation laid by Morocco.
