CAF inspects Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania’s readiness for AFCON 2027 — Al Jazeera
The Confederation of African Football conducted an eight-day inspection of stadiums, training bases, hotels, airports and other infrastructure in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, which will jointly host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The tournament will run from June 19 to July 17, 2027, and will be the first AFCON organized by three countries at once.
As Al Jazeera reports, the CAF delegation included specialists in competition operations, security, transport, media, broadcasting and logistics. The Africa Cup of Nations will return to East Africa for the first time since 1976, when Ethiopia hosted the tournament’s final stage.
Kenya completes work at its venues
Kenya’s key project is the new 60,000-seat Talanta International Sports Stadium in Nairobi. CAF President Patrice Motsepe said after the visit that he was impressed by the progress of work at the facility. Work is still ongoing at Kasarani Stadium: the pitch is scheduled to be completed by the end of October 2026, while the arena is to be handed over in December 2026.
Kenya’s local organizing committee chairman, Nicholas Musonye, said that the country is addressing outstanding requirements. At the same time, a football fan and a representative of the Boxing Federation of Kenya interviewed by the outlet pointed to the need to complete preparations at training pitches, as well as at Nyayo Stadium and Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Tanzania’s and Uganda’s deadlines
In Tanzania, stadium readiness exceeds 80% on average, local organizing committee executive director Nima Msita said. They are planned to be handed over to CAF in January 2027. Five training facilities are being prepared in each host city, with their readiness estimated at about 75%. The government also ordered work to be accelerated at training bases in Dar es Salaam and on tournament-related roads in Arusha.
According to CAF infrastructure monitoring officer Patrick Ogwel, Hoima City Stadium has already been completed and commissioned, while Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium in Lira is due to be completed by December 2026. Uganda’s main venues are Akii-Bua Stadium, Hoima City Stadium and Mandela National Stadium. Organizers expect 10 of 12 training bases to be ready by the end of 2026, although some facilities are planned for completion in January 2027.
Twenty-four national teams will take part in the final tournament of AFCON 2027. In the coming months, the host countries must complete the work, inspect the facilities and prepare the infrastructure for the tournament.
