CAF President Issues Urgent Warning To 2027 AFCON Hosts Kenya, Tanzania And Uganda

Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has urged Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to intensify preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), stressing the need for a heightened sense of urgency ahead of the tournament.

According to reports, Motsepe made the call on Friday during an inspection of facilities in Kenya, including Kasarani Stadium and the newly constructed 60,000-capacity Talanta Stadium in Nairobi. He had earlier visited venues in Tanzania as part of CAF’s assessment of preparations.

The 2027 AFCON is scheduled to take place from June 19 to July 17, marking the tournament’s return to East Africa for the first time in 51 years.

Motsepe said the stadiums and other facilities must be ready for test events from January 2027, leaving organisers limited time to complete outstanding projects.

“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.

Although the CAF president acknowledged the progress recorded so far, he noted that some facilities remained below the standards required by the continental football governing body.

“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,” Motsepe stated.

“We require those facilities to be world class.”

Kasarani Stadium remains one of the major areas of concern in Kenya, with reports indicating that the playing surface is yet to be installed. Additional work is reportedly required on broadcast cabling, floodlights and skyboxes.

Security arrangements for VIP guests and heads of state have also prompted organisers to review sections of the stadium’s original design.

Motsepe explained that the seating arrangements for special guests, particularly heads of state, had necessitated changes to the initial plans.

“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.

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Salim Mvurya, assured CAF and the public that the country would accelerate its preparations and complete the remaining work by December.

“I assure CAF and Kenyans we will accelerate the preparations for AFCON 2027,” Mvurya said.

“We will conclude everything by December to be sure we can have test matches in the various facilities.”

Motsepe is expected to return to the region in January for a final assessment of the preparations. However, he ruled out any possibility of postponing the 2027 AFCON, insisting that organisers remain committed to delivering the tournament as scheduled.

“There isn’t the slightest consideration of a postponement,” Motsepe said.

“There should be no need because there’s a deep amount of commitment.”