Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe on Wednesday, September 27 announced that Kenya’s successful bid to co-host AFCON 2027 alongside neighbors Tanzania and Uganda.
The announcement marked a significant moment in the nation’s sports history. Kenyans celebrated the milestone, which will see the tournament being staged for the first time in the Central and East Africa region.
However, this victory is more than just a bid win; it’s a chance for Kenya to correct past mistakes and build on lessons from missed opportunities in hosting major African football tournaments.
First, Kenya blew its chances to host Championship of African Nations (CHAN) in 2018 and AFCON in 1996 after winning hosting rights for both tournaments, losing the hosting rights to Rwanda and South Africa respectively due to poor preparations.
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Missed Opportunity – 1996 AFCON
In 1993, CAF picked Kenya to host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 1996 edition, a decision met with jubilation.
Stars like George Weah and Jay Jay Okocha, were expected to grace the nation’s stadiums. However, this dream turned into a nightmare.
According to former CAF President Issa Hayatou, retired President Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi, personally communicated to him notifying him that Kenya would not be ready to host the tournament.
“Then President Daniel Moi wrote to me saying Kenya was not ready,” revealed the former CAF boss. Morocco and South Africa were ready to step in, South Africa gaining the rights to host the tournament they went on to win.
Hayatou revealed this during the screening of a football evolution documentary watched by delegates attending the 39th Ordinary General Assembly in Ethiopia in 2017.
The reasons were obscure, but it was later reported that the government was reluctant to construct new stadiums in Nairobi and Mombasa, fearing the tournament would make the opposition popular.
Kenya was banned from the next two AFCON tournaments.
The CHAN 2018 Setback
Fast forward to 2018, Kenya had another shot at hosting a major tournament – the Championship of African Nations (CHAN).
The potential hosting of CHAN was seen as a chance for redemption after the AFCON debacle. However, history repeated itself.
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Despite considerable progress and the government’s initial commitment, the lack of sustained support and goodwill from the authorities led to Kenya being stripped of the hosting rights.
The fate of hosting a major tournament slipped away once again.
AFCON 2027 and the Road Ahead
Now, as Kenya celebrates winning the joint bid for AFCON 2027, there is a sense of cautious optimism.
To meet the requirements for hosting, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda must ensure they have suitable stadiums, training grounds, and other infrastructure like nearby airports, hospitals, and hotels.
Security, logistics, and a favorable political environment will also be paramount.
Notably, Kenya boasts stadiums like the 60,000-seater Kasarani Stadium, Nyayo Stadium, and Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, among others. Training grounds, including Kasarani Annex, will support the teams.
However, hosting these tournaments comes at a significant cost. For perspective, Cameroon spent approximately Ksh130 billion to host AFCON in 2021, while Gabon invested a staggering $700 million (Ksh72.2 billion) to stage the 2017 edition.
Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda will need to deposit at least Ksh3 billion to CAF by January 2025.
In conclusion, Kenya’s journey to host AFCON 2027 is not just a bid victory; it’s an opportunity to rectify past errors.
By learning from missed opportunities in 1996 and 2018, Kenya can ensure the successful hosting of AFCON 2027 and potentially elevate its status in African football.
