Kenya’s ambitious plan to host part of the 2027 AFCON matches in the football-rich regions of Nyanza and Western Kenya has suffered a significant setback with majority of the stadia yet to meet FIFA's required standards.
Kenya’s ambitious plan to host part of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in the football-rich regions of Nyanza and Western Kenya has suffered a significant setback.
Originally, several stadia across the country, including the Moi International Sports Center Kasarani, Nyayo National Stadium, the under-construction Talanta Stadium, and Kipchoge Keino Stadium, were earmarked as the main venues for the continental showpiece, a joint venture between Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
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With three of those stadia in the capital in Nairobi the country hoped to disperse some of the matches to Nyanza and Western regions of Kenya.
However, hopes to bring AFCON matches to these football-mad regions are now dashed, as crucial development works in the regions have been delayed.
In particular, two key facilities, the Moi Stadium in Kisumu and the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Mombasa, have failed to meet the rigorous standards required for FIFA competitions. While the latter carries the prestige of an international designation, it too has fallen short of FIFA’s stringent criteria, leaving a cloud of uncertainty hanging over Kenya’s aspirations.
Visitors to the Moi Stadium are met with dilapidated terraces, leaking roofs, and a general sense of neglect. While ongoing works are addressing external issues like walling, ticketing booths, and cabro pavements, the much-anticipated stadium upgrade remains far from completion.
"Currently, we have ongoing works on walling, ticketing booths, and cabro pavements at the facility. We are hopeful that in the next financial year, we can begin constructing the main stadium once we complete the external works of the facility,” Said Betrice Odongo, CEC member of the Kisumu county government department of Sports, Culture, Gender and Youth via Citizen TV.
To continue with the upgrades, the Kisumu County Government has requested an additional 150 million shillings for the 2024/2025 financial year. However, challenges in local revenue collection cast doubt on whether these funds will materialize in time.
“We’ve realized that we may not be able to fund the whole project on our own,” added Odongo.
“The governor is keen on partnering with the national government to make the dream of a FIFA-approved stadium in Kisumu a reality.”
In Mamboleo the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium had undergone significant transformation, with a modern design and infrastructure that initially raised hopes for its readiness to host international competitions.
The stadium’s amenities are impressive, but despite its designation as an international venue, it does not meet the minimum standards set by FIFA for major tournaments.
For one, the stadium’s seating capacity of 15,000 is well below the 40,000-seat minimum required for hosting AFCON quarterfinal or semifinal matches. Additionally, the terraces lack numbered seating, a critical requirement for FIFA certification.
Although the stadium has shown significant progress in other areas, these fundamental issues continue to impede its ability to host top-tier international events.
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Kenya’s hopes of hosting AFCON matches in the region have been dealt a serious blow, as both stadia fail to meet the necessary standards.
The delays in completing infrastructure upgrades and the financial challenges in securing funds further complicate the country’s efforts to attract major football events to the region.