Six African countries have expressed their interest in hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), according to a statement released by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The bidding countries include Algeria, Botswana, Egypt, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, which submitted a joint bid.
CAF has requested final bid submissions from Member Associations, which must include all bidding and hosting documents, such as hosting and host cities agreements, government guarantees, and other necessary documents. These documents must be duly signed and submitted by May 23, 2023.
After the submission deadline, CAF will begin inspecting the facilities of the bidding countries from June 1 to July 15, 2023. The host country will be announced after the inspections have been completed.
The AFCON tournament is the largest football competition on the African continent, and it is held every two years. The most recent tournament was hosted by Cameroon in 2021, and the next tournament will be hosted by Ivory Coast in 2023.
For the most part, hosting the AFCON is a significant event for any country, as it provides an opportunity to showcase its facilities and attract investment. The tournament is also a major source of revenue for the host country, as it attracts thousands of football fans from around the world.
The decision to host the tournament in a particular country is based on various factors, including the availability of suitable facilities, security concerns, and the country’s ability to finance the tournament.
In recent years, there has been a growing trend towards joint bids, as countries pool their resources to host the tournament. The most recent joint bid was the successful bid by Canada, Mexico, and the United States to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
For the most part, the bidding process for the AFCON is expected to be competitive, and it remains to be seen which country will emerge as the host for the 2027 tournament.