David GOMBE

The Confederation of African Soccer (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe has maintained that the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will probably be hosted in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

He additionally made a shock announcement at a press convention on Sunday that beginning with the 2027 version the event will probably be expanded from 24 groups to twenty-eight following an govt committee assembly.

The CAF boss nevertheless didn’t clarify how the format will work with 4 further groups, nor when it might be applied.

The final 4 Cup of Nations finals have all had 24 contributors, elevated from 16 in 2019.

Motsepe insisted the 2027 finals would go forward as deliberate in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

There may be to be one other Cup of Nations event in 2028, after which the continent’s showpiece occasion will probably be held each 4 years.

CAF is to introduce a Nations League yearly from 2029 with a 16-team remaining event held each two years, he added.

“We now have to cease this factor of African fixtures not being predictable, constant and dependable. We should develop soccer in East Africa, which is an space of a lot potential,” Motsepe mentioned.

The event comes after the CAF inspection report completed in February this yr confirmed that the three East African international locations weren’t able to host the continental showpiece.

In Uganda, the Mandela nationwide Stadium (Namboole Stadium) was cited as delayed in upgrades whereas Hoima Metropolis Stadium has a number of deficiencies regardless of being a newly-built facility whereas there are considerations over the shortage of high-end inns in Bunyoro area the place the stadium is situated.