Kenya’s journey to co-host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 officially began on Sunday following the handing over of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) flag to Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania at the close of the AFCON tournament in Morocco.
The symbolic ceremony marked both the end of one continental football spectacle and the beginning of a new era that promises high-octane, world-class football action in East Africa.
The Kenyan delegation at the ceremony was led by Principal Secretary in the State Department for Sports Elijah Mwangi, accompanied by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed.
The handover signified the formal transfer of hosting responsibility to the three East African nations, collectively branded as the Pamoja countries.
Speaking in Morocco, PS Mwangi described the opportunity to host AFCON 2027 as both a privilege and a monumental milestone for Kenya.
He said the tournament would offer a strategic platform to showcase the country’s sporting talent, footballing potential, modern infrastructure, and the warmth, diversity and cultural richness of its people.
“This is an absolute honour that we deeply appreciate. As a country, we are ready to demonstrate to the world our inherent capacity to host sporting tournaments of this magnitude. We have been preparing and we continue to prepare for this historic event,” said Mwangi.
Kenya’s preparedness for AFCON 2027 has been ongoing since the country won the rights to host the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024.
Since then, the government and key stakeholders have undertaken sustained investments in stadium refurbishment, facility upgrades, team support structures and player development programmes.
As a result, Kenya successfully hosted CHAN 2024, a continental tournament widely viewed as a litmus test of the country’s ability to finance, manage, coordinate and deliver a world-class football competition. Football analysts note that the experience gained during CHAN provided Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania with valuable insights into tournament logistics, operations and risk management.
According to PS Mwangi, the lessons drawn from CHAN will help the host nations address gaps and implement strategic interventions ahead of AFCON 2027. “CHAN was a huge success, but AFCON 2027 will be even better. We have taken concrete steps to ensure that all areas are covered. The tournament will be one of a kind,” he said.
While AFCON 2027 is a shared responsibility among the three host countries, each nation is required to independently prepare its facilities to meet CAF’s strict hosting standards. CAF technical inspection teams are expected to begin official assessment visits from March this year to evaluate progress and readiness.
These inspections will focus on key areas such as stadium infrastructure, training facilities, accommodation, healthcare services, transport networks, security and auxiliary amenities.
CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe expressed strong confidence in the ability of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to deliver a successful tournament. He cited the effective joint coordination and flexibility demonstrated during CHAN 2024 as evidence of the region’s growing capacity to host major international football events.
“I am confident that AFCON in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda will be enormously successful,” said Dr. Motsepe, adding that any challenges encountered during preparations would be adequately addressed through collaboration and planning.
In Kenya, work is progressing on the flagship Talanta Sports City Stadium, a 60,000-seater ultra-modern facility expected to be the centerpiece of the country’s AFCON matches. Regarded as one of the largest stadiums in Africa, Talanta is designed exclusively for football and rugby competitions.
The stadium will feature 52 luxury skyboxes, enhanced spectator amenities, a dedicated railway line and improved access roads to ease movement and prevent traffic congestion during matches.
Additional interventions around the stadium include improvements in power and water supply, sanitation, security and public transport systems.
Kenya will also use the 48,000-seater Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, as a second main venue, alongside other facilities such as Nyayo National Stadium, Ulinzi Sports Complex, Police Sacco Stadium and Kasarani Annex as training grounds.
Uganda’s main AFCON venues will be the Mandela National Stadium and the multi-purpose Hoima City Stadium, a 20,000-seater facility with an indoor arena.
Tanzania will host matches at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, with additional capacity provided by the Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium, currently under construction and expected to seat 30,000 spectators.
Together, the three nations are positioning East Africa as a rising football hub, ready to host one of the continent’s most prestigious sporting events.
By Wagema Mwangi (PCO)
