Kenya faces CAF inspection as CAN 2027 deadline nears

Kenya’s preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations face a decisive assessment as the Confederation of African Football checks whether construction and logistical work are advancing fast enough. Kenya is co-hosting the tournament with Uganda and Tanzania from June 19 to July 17, 2027.

A CAF delegation is due in Nairobi on August 26 and will spend Thursday and Friday examining match venues, training grounds, hotels, hospitals and airport access before continuing its mission in Uganda and Tanzania. Kasarani’s Moi International Sports Centre, with capacity for about 48,000, and the planned 60,000-seat Talanta Sports City are Kenya’s main venues. Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret has been added as a possible alternative.

CAF wants the match stadiums to be at least 80% physically complete during this inspection. All stadiums and training sites must be fully operational by January 2027, leaving limited time to address potential shortcomings involving construction, security, lighting, team areas and media facilities. In February, none of the proposed sites across the three host countries met every CAF requirement.

Kenya’s local organising committee says hotel capacity, hospitals and airports are not major concerns, with the main focus on stadiums and training facilities. Sports officials met ahead of the visit, while federation president Hussein Mohammed said the promised infrastructure would be delivered. The inspection’s findings will indicate whether the hosts are on schedule or need to intensify work.