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The FKF president explained why Kenya bid to co-host the 2027 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations alongside Uganda and Kenya.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa has explained why Kenya alongside her East Africa neighbors Tanzania and Uganda submitted a joint bid to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
On Monday, President William Ruto made an announcement at State House where he unveiled the East African Community Pamoja bid for the tournament.
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He was flanked by Sports Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ababu Namwamba, now former Sports Principal Secretary Johnathan Mweke, FKF CEO Barry Otieno, and Mwendwa himself.
However, the region faces competition from Algeria, Egypt, and Botswana who also bid to host the tournament. Namibia had also bid to host the tournament alongside Botswana but pulled out.
Speaking to K24, Mwendwa explained the reasons why the country is part of the run-in to host the tournament in four years time.
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“In the history of the Africa Cup of Nations, East Africa has never hosted an Africa Cup of Nations tournament,” he said. “In fact, the whole CECAFA region tournament has never hosted it,” he added.
“My fellow federation presidents from Tanzania and Uganda therefore saw it best to try and submit a bid in order to help our football grow by ensuring our facilities are up to standard.”
Kenya had actually won the rights to host the 1996 AFCON on the condition that a stadium would be built in Mombasa, but it was not possible and thus, the tournament was passed to South Africa.
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In 2018 Kenya were set to host the African Championship of Nations (CHAN) tournament, but had to pull out owing to the inadequate infrastructure. Therefore, why would the country still bid to host the tournament?
“First, we are three joint hosts, therefore, we do not need to have six separate stadia owing to the expenses required to get the six to a standard required to manage to host all 24 teams participating in the tournament.
“Second, East Africa has never hosted the Cup of Nations. Therefore, we have the first priority as long as we can deliver.
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“We feel confident and optimistic about winning the bid because North Africa has already hosted a lot of competitions many times in recent years. To me, they are standby countries in case we fail to deliver.”
"It is the mandate of CAF to ensure that the whole continent is fairly represented. Remember that North Africa have already hosted the 2019 AFCON and the 2022 CHAN, as well as the U17 AFCON.”
“Third, we have governments that are willing to walk the talk. We have a president that has shown us that things are different. Not just in our country, but also the president of Tanzania and Uganda, and their respective sports ministers.”
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Mwendwa explained that the purpose of submitting the bid is not just to host the tournament, but also to help raise the standard of infrastructure in the region.
“These stadiums will help over 150 million people around the region. The purpose of the AFCON is to help come up with the infrastructure that will help the players for years to come."
In Kenya, the three stadia that have been proposed are the Nyayo National Stadium and the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani as well as the Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret.
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In Tanzania, the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar-Es-Salaam, the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar and the Sheikh Ameiri Abeid stadium which is set to be rebuilt from the ground up.
In Uganda, the Namboole stadium which has been undergoing rehabilitation as well as another stadium yet to be known is set to be rebuilt from the ground up will be used.
Quizzed about why the Kipchoge Keino Stadium was proposed, Mwendwa said: “The reason we proposed the stadium in Eldoret was that the town has a five-star hotel and an international airport, which will make it easier for players to travel from one country or town to another.”
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Pulse Sports has established Kenya as fronting three stadiums, namely Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, and Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, alongside the Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, some 400km from the capital Nairobi as host venues.
“However, the stadium will be used as back up with the priority being the two biggest stadia in Nairobi.”
The Kasarani annex pitch, Utalii grounds, the newly opened Police Sacco Stadium, the Ulinzi Sports complex and the Jamhuri grounds will be used as training grounds.
Teams using the Annex and the Utalii grounds will play their matches at Kasarani while those playing at Nyayo will train at the Police Sacco Stadium and the Ulinzi Complex.
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Referees will train at the Jamhuri grounds.
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