The African Cup of Nations has always been more than a football tournament. It is a mirror of the continent’s politics, power dynamics, institutional capacity and unresolved tensions around fairness and representation.
The most recent edition, staged in Morocco and concluded in early 2026, reinforced this reality. Senegal emerged champions, but their triumph was accompanied by controversy that reignited longstanding concerns about bias, unequal treatment, and the experience of non-host nations at Africa’s flagship sporting event. These issues now cast a long shadow over AFCON 2027, which East Africa will host for the first time in more than five decades.
Hosting AFCON is not just about showcasing national pride; it is about building institutional trust across Africa’s diverse football landscape.
Senegal’s journey to the title was defined as much by resilience as by unrest. The final against host nation Morocco was intense and emotionally charged, culminating in an extra-time winner that secured Senegal’s second continental crown. Yet the match was disrupted by disputed officiating decisions, including a disallowed goal and a late penalty awarded to the hosts, prompting Senegalese players and officials to protest on the pitch.
The stoppage drew swift condemnation from CAF and FIFA, where FIFA boss Infantino said, “We also witnessed unacceptable scenes on the field and in the stands- we strongly condemn the behaviour of some supporters as well as some Senegalese players and technical staff members. It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner, and equally, violence cannot be tolerated in our sport, it is simply not right. We must always respect the decisions taken by the match officials on and off the field of play.” However, beyond the immediate reaction to player conduct, the episode opened a broader debate about structural fairness and the pressures visiting teams face when competing against hosts in high-stakes matches.
Well before the final whistle, Senegal’s delegation had raised concerns about security arrangements, access to training facilities, and ticket allocations for their supporters. These complaints were formally lodged with CAF and echoed across Senegalese media and social platforms.
While CAF maintained that organizational standards were met, the perception among many Senegalese fans and commentators was that the champions had been subjected to a less accommodating environment than the host nation. This perception, amplified by online abuse and emotive commentary, quickly evolved into claims of discrimination. Although there is no conclusive evidence of institutional bias within CAF’s tournament structures, the persistence of such narratives highlights a credibility gap between football authorities and participating teams, particularly those who feel disadvantaged by geography or political influence.
This tension between perception and proof matters deeply for the future of AFCON. Football tournaments are not judged solely on technical compliance with regulations, but on whether teams believe the competition is fair, secure, and professionally administered. Once trust begins to erode, accusations of favoritism, discrimination or double standards can take hold, regardless of intent. Senegal’s experience, therefore, should be understood less as an isolated controversy and more as a warning signal about the fragility of confidence in African football governance.
These questions are now being projected onto AFCON 2027, which Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania will co-host under the Pamoja banner. The tournament is expected to be the largest sporting event ever staged in East Africa and carries enormous symbolic and economic weight. Supporters see it as long-overdue recognition of the region’s growing football culture and political cooperation. Critics, however, point to infrastructure gaps, logistical complexity and institutional capacity as reasons for concerns.
AFCON’s credibility rests on the belief that every nation competes on equal terms.
AFCON 2027 will test more than physical infrastructure. It will test whether East Africa can deliver a tournament that treats all teams equitably, manages partisan crowds without intimidation, ensures transparent officiating, and responds swiftly to grievances before they escalate into continental controversies. The lessons from Senegal’s experience are particularly relevant here. Hosting AFCON is not just about showcasing national pride; it is about building institutional trust across Africa’s diverse football landscape.
In this sense, skepticism about East Africa’s preparedness should not be dismissed as outright prejudice, and neither should it be allowed to morph into unfair judgement. The real risk lies in underestimating how quickly organizational shortcomings, real or perceived, can undermine the legitimacy of the competition. AFCON’s credibility rests on the belief that every nation competes on equal terms.
East Africa has a rare opportunity to redefine what hosting AFCON means. By learning from the controversies that surrounded Senegal’s triumph, the region can place transparency, inclusivity and professionalism at the heart of its preparations. If successful, AFCON 2027 could mark not only a geographic shift in hosting, but a governance turning point for African football itself.
