Why Mombasa could host AFCON 2027 matches

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FOOTBALL Why Mombasa could host AFCON 2027 matches

Joel Omotto 15:09 - 17.02.2024

Mombasa could play host to some AFCON 2027 matches as the government is exploring possibilities of building the proposed new stadium in the coastal city

The government’s proposed new 60,000-seater stadium could be built in Mombasa and not Nairobi as initially thought following revelations by Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababau Namwamba.

The facility, which has been christened Talanta Stadium, is one of the venues Kenya is hoping to use for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which the country will co-host alongside Uganda and Tanzania, and with many thinking that Nairobi would host all matches, Mombasa could also get a bite of the cherry.

“Designs for the proposed new Talanta Sports City, whose centerpiece is a 60,000-seater premier stadium have been completed. Preparations for the commencement of the project are at an advanced stage,” Namwamba told the Parliamentary Committee on Sports on Thursday.

“In designing this stadium, we considered two potential venues and therefore the designs pretty much took into account the characteristics of those potential venues and that is Nairobi at the Jamhuri Sports Ground along Ngong Road and Mombasa at the Shanzu area.

“I can confirm to this committee that a decision will be made before the ground breaking ceremony is done."

This perhaps explains why a number of facilities at the coast have been designated as part of the training venues during the AFCON 2027 tournament.

Mbaraki Sports grounds, Shanzu Teachers’ Training College, Mombasa Municipal grounds, Diani ASK grounds are among the designated training venues for the tournament, alongside Eldoret University, Eldoret Polytechnic, Eldoret ASK grounds and Nairobi’s Kasarani upper warm-up, two grounds at the Kenya Academy of Sports, Nyayo National Stadium and Ulinzi Complex.

“It is a requirement by CAF that in hosting of AFCON, three training venues be in proximity of each competition venue and should be of similar standards to the competition venue surface. The renovations will be undertaken through a phased approach and are expected to be completed by December 2025,” Namwamba further explained.

The government is yet to reveal how much the new stadium will cost with its funding set to be allocated in the 2024-25 budget.

Kasarani Stadium, the other venue earmarked to host the tournament, is already undergoing renovation with work set to be completed in December 2025 while the groundbreaking of the Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret will take place in the first week of March with the facility also expected to be ready by end of next year.

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