As East Africa intensifies preparations for the historic 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, Football Kenya Federation President Hussein Mohammed has boldly declared that Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are determined to stage the greatest AFCON tournament the continent has ever witnessed.
The three East African neighbours will jointly host the continental showpiece under the “PAMOJA 2027” banner, marking the first time in history that the competition will be staged across three countries.
The tournament is scheduled to kick off on June 19, 2027, with the final set for July 17, as confirmed by FIFA Council resolutions during a recent meeting in Vancouver, Canada.
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Hussein Mohammed confident East Africa will stage historic AFCON 2027
Speaking during a high-level meeting chaired by CAF President Patrice Motsepe in Nairobi, Hussein Mohammed expressed unwavering confidence in East Africa’s readiness to deliver an unforgettable championship capable of surpassing expectations both on and off the pitch.
“I have no doubt East Africa is ready and will deliver the best AFCON the continent and the world has ever seen,” said Mohammed.
His remarks come at a time when comparisons have already started emerging with the highly celebrated Morocco 2025 edition, a tournament widely praised for its world-class organisation, modern infrastructure and record-breaking digital engagement across the globe.
However, Mohammed maintained that the East African nations are not entering into a rivalry with Morocco, but rather seeking to create their own unique football identity.
“We do not intend to compete with Morocco as the Minister has alluded to. We are unique in East Africa and we will deliver a unique AFCON that has never been seen,” he added.
The FKF boss further explained that preparations are not solely centred around stadium construction and training facilities, but also on creating an unforgettable cultural and hospitality experience for supporters who will travel from different corners of the continent and beyond.
“In this regard, it is not just the hardware, being the facilities and stadiums but also the software. East Africa is known for its hospitality, we are known to be a hardworking population and we are known for delivering quality and we experienced that with CHAN,” Mohammed noted.
CAF President Motsepe, who is in Kenya for the Africa Forward Summit, also lauded the progress made by the co-host nations towards ensuring the tournament becomes a success story for African football. During his visit, Motsepe inspected key facilities including the Talanta Sports Stadium project and the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, both expected to play crucial roles during the tournament.
“Kenya is amongst the three nations that will host next year’s AFCON the biggest sporting event on African soil,” said Motsepe while reaffirming CAF’s confidence in the PAMOJA bid.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Sports Salim Mvurya echoed similar sentiments after holding strategic consultations with officials from Uganda and Tanzania alongside the CAF leadership.
“It was my distinct honour to host the President of CAF Patrice Motsepe, alongside fellow PAMOJA Ministers of Sports and Presidents of the Pamoja Federations, as we advanced strategic consultations on the joint hosting preparations for the 2027 AFCON,” said Mvurya.
The Sports CS further revealed that discussions focused on harmonising operational frameworks, government coordination structures and financial planning to ensure the tournament runs seamlessly across the three nations.
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The 2027 edition will also carry historic significance as it coincides with the 70th anniversary of the Africa Cup of Nations. It will additionally become the final AFCON tournament to be staged in odd-numbered years before CAF transitions the competition into a quadrennial calendar from 2028 onwards.
With infrastructure works gathering momentum and regional cooperation strengthening by the day, East Africa now carries the responsibility of delivering a football spectacle capable of uniting the continent while showcasing the region’s passion, culture and growing football ambition on the global stage.