Kenya bids for AFCON 2027 opening match and final in PAMOJA race

Kenya has entered the contest to host both the opening match and final of AFCON 2027, putting its new 60,000-capacity Raila Odinga International Stadium at the centre of its bid. The tournament will be jointly staged by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania under the PAMOJA arrangement.

The Local Organising Committee told the National Assembly’s Select Committee on Regional Integration that the Nairobi stadium was 95 per cent complete. Kenya’s wider preparations were put at 80 per cent, which officials described as the required benchmark at this stage.

LOC chairman Nicholas Musonye said the stadium, along with Kenya’s security arrangements and hotel capacity, gives the country a strong case for the two most prominent fixtures. The venue was previously known as Talanta Sports City and is being developed as the country’s main showcase facility for the tournament.

CAF has fixed the opening match for June 19, 2027, and the final for July 17. It has not yet assigned either game to a host country, saying the locations would be announced at a later date. CAF was still consulting the three governments and their organising committees over the opening fixture, final and final draw as recently as June.

Kenya’s stadium work has moved beyond its main structural phase, with attention also being given to information technology, broadcasting facilities, spectator services, landscaping and the hybrid playing surface. CAF’s assessment will cover more than seating capacity, with transport, hospitality, media operations and security also central to the allocation of the headline matches.

Uganda remains part of the competition for the major fixtures. Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, is expected to be one of its principal venues, with renovation work intended to raise capacity from 38,268 to 45,000. Uganda is also completing Hoima City Stadium and carrying out remedial work after issues were identified during CAF inspections.

Uganda’s wider AFCON programme includes spending on stadiums, roads, rail, airports, hotels, hospitals, security and tournament operations. Kenyan MPs said they plan to inspect facilities in their own country and may visit Uganda and Tanzania to compare progress. PAMOJA 2027 will be the first Africa Cup of Nations staged jointly by three countries and the first edition hosted in East Africa.