African football finally has a roadmap. CAF has confirmed dates and host nations for its major 2026-27 competitions, ending months of uncertainty for clubs, broadcasters, and the federations trying to plan around all of it.
The headline act is the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, set for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027. Qualifying begins in September 2026 — which means the continental picture starts taking shape within months. Any team still building a squad around AFCON spots now has a fixed target.
Sundowns vs. USM Alger opens the season
Before any of that, the CAF Super Cup lands on November 8, 2026, in Tshwane, South Africa. Mamelodi Sundowns — CAF Champions League winners — take on USM Alger, who hold the Confederation Cup. Kickoff is 3pm local (1pm GMT).
It's a genuinely compelling fixture. Sundowns have been the dominant force in African club football for the better part of a decade. Alger are no pushover. The head-to-head odds on this one should attract serious attention once bookmakers open markets.
The preliminary rounds of both the Champions League and Confederation Cup 2026-27 also have dates: first legs on September 4-6, returns September 11-13. Club football is moving.
Ghana, Morocco, Egypt share the youth slate
CAF spread the youth hosting duties across the continent:
- Ghana hosts the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in February and March 2027
- Morocco stages the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations in April and May 2027
- Egypt hosts the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, which doubles as the qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
That Olympic qualifier is worth watching closely. The teams that come through Egypt won't just be competing for continental youth silverware — they're competing for a spot at the Games. The stakes shift accordingly.
Morocco also hosts the Futsal Africa Cup of Nations from October 12-21, 2026, and Senegal takes the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in November. CAF is also studying a new U-17 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, which could launch as soon as next year if the organisational groundwork holds.
CAF's proposed African Nations League is still in development — the format was discussed at Executive Committee level, but no dates are locked. That one still has question marks around it.
For now, the core calendar is set. African football has its schedule. What happens on the pitch is another matter entirely.
