The curtains have officially come down on the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, and with it, the spotlight has firmly shifted eastward.
On Sunday night, African football entered a new chapter after CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe formally handed over the AFCON tournament flag to Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, officially sealing East Africa’s joint hosting rights for the Pamoja 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The symbolic handover marked the formal start of preparations for the first-ever AFCON tournament to be jointly hosted by three nations, a historic milestone for East Africa and the continent at large.
The ceremony, held shortly after the AFCON 2025 final in Morocco, represented more than a transition of hosting duties. It signaled CAF’s confidence in the region’s ability to deliver a world-class tournament built on unity, ambition and shared purpose.
Speaking after the handover, FKF President Hussein Mohammed expressed pride and optimism stating,
“This marks a proud moment for our region as Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania officially receive the flag to host AFCON 2027. East Africa is ready, and Kenya is looking forward to playing its part in delivering a tournament that will leave a lasting mark on African football.
After setting new standards with the most successful CHAN in history, we are determined to raise the bar even higher in 2027. The journey begins now.”
East Africa’s confidence heading into AFCON 2027 is grounded in recent success. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania jointly hosted African Nations Championship 2024 (CHAN). From vibrant fan engagement and seamless logistics and competitive football, the CHAN experience provided a clear blueprint for what is possible when the region works together.
With that foundation in place, the three host nations are now focused on matching and surpassing the magic delivered during CHAN on an even bigger AFCON stage.
Under the banner “Pamoja”, meaning together, the 2027 tournament will be a celebration of regional cooperation, cultural diversity and football excellence. Preparations will now accelerate across all host countries, with emphasis on stadium readiness, training facilities, transport infrastructure, security and fan experience.
AFCON 2027 will also offer an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy beyond the final whistle, through infrastructure development, football growth programs and increased global visibility for East African football.
As the AFCON flag makes its journey from Morocco to East Africa, the message is unmistakable. The baton has been passed. The journey has begun
