Ivory Coast veteran journalist Mamadou Gaye has doubled down on his blunt assessment that Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are not ready to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, igniting a fierce debate across the region and putting the spotlight on infrastructure, logistics and CAF’s decision-making.
A press conference that sparked controversy
At a high-profile press briefing with CAF President Patrice Motsepe, Gaye delivered a scathing critique of the three host nations, questioning whether they can meet the exacting standards set by recent tournaments.
His remarks, sharp, uncompromising and rooted in personal observation, prompted immediate reaction from fans, officials and the media.
Gaye painted a stark picture: long, slow journeys between venues, inadequate roads and a lack of the nationwide transport networks that have become the hallmark of modern AFCON hosts.
“Some of my colleagues from East Africa told me from one country to another it will take you two days to drive,” he said, warning that the region risks lowering the bar unless rapid improvements are made.
CAF stands firm on East Africa hosting
Despite the backlash, Patrice Motsepe reaffirmed CAF’s commitment to East Africa, insisting the tournament will go-ahead in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Motsepe framed the decision as part of a broader mission to grow African football and insisted CAF will not strip the hosting rights lightly, while also promising inspections and oversight to ensure standards are met.
Gaye explains his concerns in detail
In an exclusive interview with Flashscore ahead of the 2025 AFCON final in Rabat, Gaye expanded on his critique.
He contrasted East Africa’s current state with the infrastructure showcased in Morocco—modern stadiums, high-speed trains and seamless highways—and argued that the continent must aim for the highest benchmarks.
Gaye invoked history to underline his point, recalling how Kenya once lost hosting rights in the past and how other tournaments have been postponed when hosts were unprepared.
“If you want to host to the level of Morocco, you have to be ready,” he said, urging East African nations to accelerate infrastructure projects and logistical planning.
Local realities and regional stakes
Gaye said his views are informed by firsthand experience: he has driven across Kenya and witnessed traffic congestion and road conditions that, in his view, could disrupt match schedules and fan movement.
He stopped short of calling for the tournament to be moved immediately, but insisted CAF must be pragmatic: inspections are necessary, and the hosts must “pull up their socks.”
His comments arrive as the 2027 edition prepares to make history—the first AFCON hosted by three countries and the first in the CECAFA region since Ethiopia in 1976.
The plan calls for nine stadiums supplied by the three nations, with matches likely staged across 10 cities, including Nairobi, Eldoret, Kakamega, Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Dodoma, Zanzibar, Kampala, Lira and Hoima.
What comes next
CAF has signalled that a delegation will inspect the three countries to assess readiness, a move that could either reassure critics or force urgent upgrades.
For now, Gaye’s stark assessment has done what commentary should: it has focused attention, raised the stakes and put East Africa’s preparations under an unforgiving spotlight.
Whether the region can meet the challenge remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—AFCON 2027 will be a test not just of stadiums and roads, but of ambition, coordination and the will to deliver a tournament that matches the continent’s growing footballing stature.
