East Africa has answered its critics with confidence and ambition, dismissing claims that Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania lack the roads and stadiums to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Speaking from a benchmarking visit to Morocco on Sunday, January 18, 2026, Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi insisted the trio are ready to stage a world‑class tournament and vowed to turn scepticism into a showcase of regional capability.
During a video posted by Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, Mwangi struck a defiant tone, pointing to the successful joint hosting of the African Nations Championships (CHAN) in 2025 as proof that the region can deliver.
“We have the capacity and what it takes, both infrastructure‑wise and the amenities within the countries, including our teams. We did it during CHAN, and we did learn. We have the support of CAF and the president is supporting us,” he said, promising an AFCON that will outshine past events.
On the benchmarking tour, Mwangi singled out Morocco’s modern stadiums as a model to emulate, not a standard to fear.
He acknowledged gaps that need closing at home but framed them as opportunities: targeted upgrades, smarter logistics and accelerated projects. Among those projects, the Talanta Stadium—earmarked for the opening and closing ceremonies—was highlighted as progressing on schedule.
The three nations received the AFCON flag after being confirmed as hosts, a symbolic handover that signals a historic moment for East Africa.
The June–July 2027 tournament will be the first AFCON co‑hosted by three countries and the first on East African soil since Ethiopia in 1976.
Mwangi invited fans from across Africa and the world to witness the region’s rise, calling the event a chance to showcase East Africa’s hospitality and sporting passion.
The debate over readiness flared after an Ivorian journalist questioned the region’s infrastructure, drawing swift backlash from Kenyan and regional supporters.
But CAF president Patrice Motsepe weighed in, rejecting the idea that major tournaments should be confined to established hosts. Motsepe argued that restricting hosting rights would stifle football development across the continent and reiterated CAF’s commitment to spreading the game’s benefits.
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania now face the twin tasks of finishing infrastructure upgrades and convincing sceptics through delivery.
With CHAN behind them and CAF’s backing, the hosts say they will use the next 18 months to refine logistics, complete stadium works and ensure that when the whistle blows in 2027, East Africa will have staged an AFCON to remember.
