- Kick-off match on June 19, 2027, and final on July 17, 2027.
- The tournament will be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda for the first time in history.
- The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 is expected to reach over 400 million people in East Africa.
- The qualification process will involve 48 teams, including the three co-hosts.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has made significant strides in the African football calendar with the announcement of the kick-off and final dates for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027. The historic tournament will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, marking the first time in the competition's history that three countries will host the event.
The dates for the tournament were approved by the FIFA Council during their recent meeting in Vancouver, Canada. The opening match is scheduled for Saturday, June 19, 2027, while the final will take place on Saturday, July 17, 2027. CAF has also announced that they will reveal the host country for the opening match and the final in due course.
Qualification Process
The qualification process for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 will be a crucial aspect of the tournament. With the preliminary round already completed, the next stage will be the draw for the qualifiers, which will take place on May 19, 2026. A total of 48 teams, including the three co-hosts, will participate in the qualifiers, which will be played across three FIFA international windows.
The 48 teams will be divided into 12 groups of four teams each, with the top two teams in each group qualifying for the final tournament. The qualifiers will be played on the following matchdays:
Matchdays 1 and 2: September 21 to October 6, 2026
Matchdays 3 and 4: November 9 to 17, 2026
Matchdays 5 and 6: March 22 to 30, 2027
A Historic Return to East Africa
The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 marks the return of the competition to the East African region for the first time since Ethiopia hosted the tournament in 1976. This move is expected to bring African football to a wider audience in the region, with the tournament projected to reach over 400 million people in East Africa.
The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 will build on the success of previous editions, including the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 and the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023, which delivered record commercial revenue, sponsorship growth, and global broadcast audiences.
Background
The African Cup of Nations has a rich history, dating back to 1957 when the first tournament was held in Sudan. Since then, the tournament has grown in popularity and size, with the current format featuring 24 teams competing in a group stage and knockout phase. The tournament has been hosted by various countries across the continent, with South Africa hosting the most recent edition in 2013.
African football has made significant strides in recent years, with the continent's national teams competing at the highest level in international competitions. The success of African teams in the FIFA World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations has brought African football to the forefront of global attention, with the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 expected to be no exception.
Looking Ahead
The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 promises to be an exciting tournament, with African football fans eagerly anticipating the kick-off match on June 19, 2027. The qualification process will be a crucial aspect of the tournament, with teams vying for a spot in the final tournament. As the continent's top teams battle it out for the coveted AFCON trophy, one thing is certain - African football will once again take center stage in 2027.
