Kenya Greenlights Bid To Host 2027 AFCON

By Samuel Ouma The Cabinet, on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, approved the proposal to have Kenya host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). The Cabinet presided over by President William Ruto, stated that having the continental tournament in Kenya will support Harambee Stars in reaching their lofty goal of making the 2030 Fifa World Cup. Kenya will host the tournament alongside other East African nations. "In a bid to revive the prospects of Kenyan football, Cabinet sanctioned the revitalization of football as a critical cog of our nation's social fabric. The national effort will encompass the rebuilding of the national men's team, Harambee Stars, and the rebuilding of the women's national team, the Harambe Starlets. As a stepping stone towards the target of Harambee Stars qualifying for the Fifa World Cup in the year 2030, Cabinet approved the proposal to host the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in 2027 alongside EAC partner states. Cabinet noted that the joint bid would deploy the power of sports in furthering regional integration," read the statement. Kenya has never previously hosted the Afcon. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) stripped Kenya of the rights to host the continental showpiece in 1996 due to the country's poor sports facilities. It was the same reason that CAF revoked Kenya's right to host the 2018 African Nations Championships (CHAN).