The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is facing a critical juncture regarding the future of its flagship tournament. Sources indicate a severe scheduling crisis for the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), stemming from a hyper-congested global sporting calendar.
With the 2028 Summer Olympics and UEFA Euro 2028 both scheduled for that year, finding a viable television broadcast and player availability window has proven nearly impossible.
The Co-Host Delay Plan
To mitigate this bottleneck, CAF is seriously considering a radical restructuring of its tournament timeline:
- 2027 Postponement: The 2027 AFCON, currently awarded to the East African joint-bid of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, may be postponed to 2028.
- Infrastructure Grace Period: This delay would allow the co-hosts critical additional time to complete necessary infrastructure projects, including stadium renovations and transport upgrades, amid concerns over current progress.
- 2028 Cancellation: Consequently, the tournament originally planned for 2028 could be canceled entirely to realign the cycle.
Emergency Executive Meeting in Dar es Salaam
The CAF Executive Committee is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, this Friday, February 13, 2026.
This meeting is widely expected to yield the final decision on these scheduling issues, with the future of the 2027 and 2028 hosting cycles hanging in the balance.
