Two more countries have raised their hands as the East Africa region reiterates its commitment for a joint-bid to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
They join southern African nations Botswana and Namibia who have also announced that they will submit a joint bid to host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2027.
Uganda have been vocal in their pursuit to host the 36th edition of the biennial continental tournament together with their neighbours Tanzania. The country’s president Yoweri Museveni has gone as far as giving permission to the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) to go ahead and put in a bid to co-host the tournament.
Their Tanzanian counterparts have also come out to commit themselves to back the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) for a co-bid with Uganda. Tanzania Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has come out in support of bringing the Afcon for the fourth time in the region.
This was revealed by CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe on the sidelines of the 44th Ordinary General Assembly in Arusha, Tanzania on Wednesday.
“The Prime Minister of Tanzania has said that Tanzania is very keen to support the bid in partnership with Uganda to host the Afcon in 2027,” Motsepe told reporters outside the Arusha International Conference Centre.
If their bid is successful, Uganda and Tanzania will only be the second host from East Africa. On the other hand, Botswana and Namibia are hoping to play host to the tournament for the first time in the region since 2013, when it was held in South Africa.
The only other country to host the Afcon from that region is Ethiopia who hosted the tournament three times, in 1962, 1968 and 1976.
North Africa has hosted the most number of Afcons (13), followed by West Africa (9), Central Africa (6), East Africa (3) and Southern Africa (2). The next two editions of the Afcon will be hosted in West Africa, Ivory Coast in 2024 and Guinea in 2025.
