Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa is convinced that the joint East Africa’s bid to co-host the 2027 Confederation of African Foootball (CAF) Africa Cup of Nations will be go through.
According to Mwendwa, the region which comprises Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania has already started preparations while anticipating a nod from CAF to stage the continental football bonanza for the first time in history.
“We have learned our mistakes from the 1996 event which we were awarded the hosting rights but failed to honour it because of lack of preparedness before it was awarded to South Africa who whose national team went ahead to win it, then the 2018 CHAN competition which was awarded to us and we were still not able to prepare well because of lack of government support. Now you have all seen the front role President William Ruto has taken in supporting the event and he has instructed the Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba to ensure the facilities and infrastructre are ready in good time and work has already started,” he said.
Nick Mwendwa also disclosed that Kenya has already identified match and training venues in and outside Nairobi for the competition.
He added: “ In our bid we have picked Nyayo Stadium, Kasarani Stadium and Kipchoge Keino Stadium for their proximity to an international airport and Five-Star Hotels. There is a lot of work to be done though, which should be completed in less than two years. Tanzania has identified the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, one in Zanzibar and another one in Arusha, while Uganda have identified Nambole Stadium which has been under going renovation and one other one that is set to be put up.”
Meanwhile, the entire East African community grapples with similar challenges of inadequate and substandard stadia facilities but according to Mwendwa, the region is working around the clock to meet the requirements ahead of 2027 AFCON competition.
