ONE YEAR TO KICK-OFF: Countdown to TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations KE-TZ-UG 27

In exactly one year's time, Africa's greatest Football Show will return to East Africa for the first time since 1976 when the when the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations KE-TZ-UG 27 kicks off on 19 June 2027.

Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will host the AFCON for the first time in their history – an event that is expected to attract over 1.5 million fans to the three countries. The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations is now a global spectacle with over 3.2 billion global TV Audiences.

The Final of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations KE-TZ-UG 27 will be played on 17 July. CAF is still in consultation with the Three Nations Local Organizing Committees and Governments to determine the Country that will host the Final Draw in March 2027, Opening match on 19 June and Final Match on 17 July 2027.

With exactly 365 days remaining before kick-off, anticipation continues to build across the continent as nations prepare for the qualifying campaign that will determine the 24 teams that will compete for African football's ultimate prize.

The theme of the tournament, "PAMOJA", the Swahili word for "Together", reflects CAF’s vision of unity, cooperation and shared progress through football.

The road to the finals has already begun following the conclusion of the Qualifiers Draw in Cairo in May, where 48 nations discovered their routes to the finals.

Some of Africa's biggest football powers, including Morocco, Egypt, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon, Tunisia, South Africa and DR Congo, will begin their quest for qualification when the qualifiers kick off in September 2026.

The qualification campaign will be played across three FIFA international windows:

• Matchdays 1 & 2: 21 September – 6 October 2026

• Matchdays 3 & 4: 9 – 17 November 2026

• Matchdays 5 & 6: 22 – 30 March 2027

The hosts Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have already secured automatic qualification but will participate in the qualifiers, with only one additional nation progressing from each of their groups.

The TotalEnergies CAF AFCON continues to grow as one of the world's most watched sporting events. Recent editions in Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire and Morocco have attracted record global audiences, expanding the competition's reach and strengthening its position as Africa's premier sporting event.

Over the next 12 months, CAF, the three host nations and football stakeholders across the continent will continue preparations to ensure a tournament worthy of Africa's passion and ambition.