Assahafa.com
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has dispatched a technical inspection team to the three host countries of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 and CAF experts are currently crisscrossing East Africa to evaluate readiness for next year’s tournament. The inspection mission started this week and is scheduled to run through February 17.
From Nairobi’s Talanta Stadium to the Samia Suluhu Stadium in Arusha, the CAF inspection team is doing a deep dive into everything from pitch quality to security protocols, ensuring they meet strict, world‑class benchmarks for pitch quality, safety, security, fan access and operational capability. It’s a vital litmus test for the historic three-nation bid, ensuring all host cities are on track for the continent’s biggest football party.
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are collectively known as the “Pamoja” hosts (Pamoja means “together” in Swahili).
Tanzania
The tour started in Dar es Salaam, with CAF experts getting a first-hand look at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium and its training sites. From there, the team headed to Arusha to check on progress at the Samia Suluhu Stadium before crossing over to Zanzibar. They’ve been busy auditing both the Amaan and Fumba stadiums, ensuring these key venues are fully up to code for the 2027 tournament.
Kenya
In Nairobi, the CAF mission is reviewing major football hubs including Kasarani Stadium, Nyayo Stadium and Talanta Sports Stadium. Training venues such as the Ulinzi Sports Complex and the Kenya Academy of Sports are also under assessment.
Uganda
In Uganda, the focus has been on Mandela National Stadium in Kampala and related training venues. The CAF team is also scheduled to assess Hoima City Stadium, one of the more recently completed host venues.
The inspection tour will be accompanied later this week by a visit from the CAF Executive Committee and CAF President Patrice Motsepe, who is expected in Tanzania on February 13 for an important meeting and further evaluations.
According to CAF, these inspections are about making sure that AFCON 2027 meets world-class standards. We’re talking about a full audit of safety protocols, transport links, and media hubs. Since this is East Africa’s first time hosting together, the goal is to work hand-in-hand with local organizers to turn these ambitious plans into reality.
Broader CAF context
Some reports have raised questions about whether Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania can pull this off on time. Some are even calling for a “Plan B.” But CAF isn’t blinking and reiterated that they still have total faith in the project and see these site visits as the best way to iron out any wrinkles before 2027.
This inspection tour comes at a time of unusual uncertainty in African football’s broader calendar. CAF recently announced that after the 2027 tournament, the AFCON will shift from its long‑standing biennial cycle to a four‑year one starting in 2028.
It was framed as a restructuring of African football to align its competition with the global football calendar and reduce conflicts with European club seasons.
Source: Morocco word news
