The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released important details on the dates and host countries for several of its major competitions scheduled for the 2026-27 season.
The continental football body said the updated calendar was designed to give national football associations, commercial partners, broadcasters and supporters a clearer picture of upcoming events.
In a statement issued on Monday, CAF said it had made considerable progress towards creating a more organised and predictable competition schedule.
According to the body, the changes are aimed at improving existing tournaments while also creating room for new competitions that will offer more opportunities for players at both senior and youth levels.
One of the major highlights is the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The tournament is scheduled to run from June 19 to July 17, 2027, while qualification is expected to begin in September 2026.
South Africa gets Super Cup
South Africa has been selected to host the 2026 CAF Super Cup, with the one-off fixture set for Tshwane on November 8.
The game will bring together Champions League winners Mamelodi Sundowns and Confederation Cup champions USM Alger.
Kick-off is scheduled for 3pm South African time, which is 1pm GMT.
Ghana, Morocco and Egypt named youth hosts
CAF has also confirmed the countries that will stage some of its major youth tournaments.
Ghana will host the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations between February and March 2027, while Morocco will welcome the continent’s Under-17 teams in April and May.
Egypt, meanwhile, has been chosen to host the Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations. The tournament will also carry added significance as it will determine Africa’s representatives for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
CAF is also considering the introduction of an Under-17 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. The governing body said it was assessing whether the proposed tournament could be launched in 2027, subject to meeting the required sporting and organisational standards.
If approved, the competition would create another platform for young female footballers to gain international experience.
Futsal and Beach Soccer dates
Morocco will host the 2026 Futsal Africa Cup of Nations from October 12 to 21, while Senegal has been selected to stage the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in November.
Champions League, Confederation Cup draws completed
CAF also confirmed that the draws for the preliminary stages of the 2026-27 Champions League and Confederation Cup have been concluded.
The opening legs of the first preliminary round are scheduled for September 4 to 6, with the return fixtures to be played between September 11 and 13.
Meanwhile, discussions around the proposed African Nations League have progressed, with CAF’s Executive Committee reviewing the proposed format.
The continental body said the developments were part of its wider effort to establish a football calendar that is easier for all stakeholders to plan around.
CAF believes a more predictable schedule will help national associations prepare properly, give players clearer opportunities to compete, and allow sponsors, broadcasters and supporters to plan around major African football events.
