CAF Confirms Dates and Hosts for Major African Football Competitions
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has made further progress in shaping its competitions calendar, confirming dates and host nations for several major tournaments across the continent.
The updated schedule is expected to provide greater certainty for national associations, broadcasters, sponsors and supporters while allowing CAF to improve the organisation and promotion of its competitions.
The 2027 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, to be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, will take place from June 19 to July 17, 2027. Qualification for the continental showpiece is scheduled to begin in September 2026.
South Africa will stage the TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup, with Champions League winners Mamelodi Sundowns set to face CAF Confederation Cup holders USM Alger in Tshwane on November 8, 2026.
The Super Cup will kick off at 15:00 local time (13:00 GMT).
Ghana is also set to play host to a major continental tournament after being awarded the 2027 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, which is scheduled for February and March next year.
Other youth competitions will be hosted across the continent, with Morocco staging the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in April and May 2027, while Egypt will host the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations later in the year.
The U-23 tournament will carry additional significance as it will serve as the qualifying competition for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
CAF is also exploring the introduction of a new U-17 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, with the possibility of launching the tournament in 2027 subject to the necessary sporting and organisational requirements being met.
In futsal and beach soccer, Morocco will host the Futsal Africa Cup of Nations from October 12 to 21, 2026, while Senegal is scheduled to stage the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in November.
Plans for a proposed African Nations League are also advancing, with the CAF Executive Committee having discussed the potential format of the competition.
The proposed tournament is intended to provide national teams with more meaningful competitive fixtures while creating additional commercial opportunities for African football associations.
At club level, CAF has completed the preliminary-round draws for the 2026/27 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.
The first legs of the opening preliminary round will be played between September 4 and 6, 2026, with the return fixtures scheduled for September 11 to 13.
The latest developments form part of CAF’s wider effort to create a more organised and predictable football calendar across the continent.
With dates and host nations being confirmed well in advance, national associations, clubs, players, broadcasters, sponsors and supporters will have greater clarity as they prepare for another busy period of African football.
