Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe has called for a “heightened sense of urgency” from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda as the three co-hosts race to be ready for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The tournament is set to return to East Africa for the first time in 51 years. It is scheduled to open on 19 June and conclude with the final on 17 July. Stadiums are supposed to be ready for testing in around three months’ time, leaving little room for delay in Motsepe’s view.
Motsepe spoke after inspecting preparations in Kenya on Friday, having begun his visit in Tanzania. “Even though we’ve got nine months, we need to start using those stadiums in January next year to test them and to see what further improvements are required,” he said.
He described the progress as “very good” while acknowledging that some facilities remain below the required standard. “We’ve got very high standards in terms of our expectations of the infrastructure, the facilities and the stadiums, the hotels, the roads, the football pitches where training takes place,” he added. “We require those facilities to be world class.”
In Nairobi, Motsepe inspected Kasarani Stadium and the newly constructed 60,000-capacity Talanta Stadium. One of the main areas of concern in Kenya is Kasarani and its corresponding training facility. The stadium is set to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, which Nairobi was awarded on Tuesday ahead of London and Rome.
When Caf carried out its previous inspection in mid-February, local organisers were told that stadiums and their associated training facilities should be about 80% ready by August. But Kasarani has seen limited progress over the past seven months, with several areas still needing attention. The playing surface has not yet been laid, and work is required on broadcast and television cabling, floodlights and the stadium’s sky boxes.
Motsepe also highlighted the demands of hosting hundreds of VIPs and heads of state, saying some stadium designs will need to be reconfigured. “Security issues in relation to where the special guests, particularly the heads of state, will be seated requires a revision of the original plans,” he said.
Despite the delays in certain areas, Motsepe insisted that postponement is not on the table. “There isn’t the slightest consideration of a postponement,” he said. “There should be no need because there’s a deep amount of commitment.” He later added: “There’s no plan B, there’s no plan C.”
Recent Caf tournaments have regularly been delayed from their original dates. The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations was played in July after the planned kick-off in March was postponed with just 12 days’ notice. The 2024 African Nations Championship in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda was moved from its intended February 2025 dates to August 2025 to ensure infrastructure and facilities were “at the levels necessary”, a decision taken 18 days before it was due to start. The 2023 Afcon in Ivory Coast was moved to the early months of 2024 because of concerns about the rainy season.
Two years ago, Motsepe’s former deputy Veron Mosengo-Omba admitted that Caf faced a “scheduling nightmare” to fit its biennial tournaments into the crowded football calendar. Some pundits claim that is part of the reasoning behind the decision to play the men’s Afcon every four years after 2028.
Kenya’s cabinet secretary for sports, Salim Mvurya, insisted preparations would be completed on time. “I assure Caf and Kenyans we will accelerate the preparations for Afcon 2027,” he said. “We will conclude everything by December to be sure we can have test matches in the various facilities.” December is significant because Motsepe is due to return to the region for a final assessment visit in January.
For Kenya, hosting Afcon is part of a wider sporting legacy. Mvurya said one of the reasons Kenya won the 2029 World Athletics Championships bid was because it is hosting Afcon. “Sport is not just entertainment, it is livelihood, it is economic transformation,” he said. “Therefore we are aware the opportunity to host Afcon will be key for our economic inspiration. Our tourism will be a big beneficiary. As government, we are confident we will host a successful Afcon.”
The next three months are likely to be particularly crucial in making that promise a reality.