AFCON 2027: 5 Key Milestones Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania Must Achieve by August

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the host nations of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda have formally established the PAMOJA Oversight Committee to manage preparations for the 2027 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The agreement was finalised during a high-level working meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, attended by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, along with government ministers and football federation presidents from the three East African nations.

This landmark decision aims to accelerate preparations for the first-ever AFCON to be jointly hosted by three countries.

The newly formed committee will be responsible for providing strategic direction, coordinating efforts, and overseeing all preparations across the host nations. A Joint Resolution was signed by all parties, officially launching the committee with immediate effect.

As part of the agreed-upon roadmap, the host nations have committed to achieving several key milestones by the end of August 2026.

Acceleration of Stadium and Infrastructure Development

By August 2026, the primary construction phase for all major venues must be 100% complete. Major projects like Kenya's Talanta Sports City, Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Stadium and Uganda’s Hoima Stadium must be structurally finished, with internal fittings (dressing rooms, VIP lounges, media centres) finalised.

At least four CAF-standard training grass pitches per host city must be ready, ensuring teams have world-class facilities away from the main match venues.

Infrastructure such as the roads leading directly to the stadiums and dedicated shuttle lanes from airports must be operational to prevent the logistical bottlenecks.

Confirmation of Host Venues and Key Operational Plans

August 2026 marks the deadline for the final decisions of the tournament blueprint. All confirmed venues must have received their final pre-tournament certification from CAF inspectors.

Detailed operational playbooks for every stadium must be ready, covering everything from spectator flow and ticketing gate management to the exact positioning of VAR equipment.

Cross-Border Coordination on Visa, Immigration, and Mobility

A unified tournament visa (or a temporary waiver for ticket holders) must be fully operational, too. This allows fans to follow their teams from Nairobi to Dar es Salaam without multiple visa fees or border delays.

Customs protocols must be fast-tracked for broadcast equipment, team gear, and sponsor materials to ensure they move across borders in hours, not days.

Increased flight frequencies between the host cities and shuttle agreements between national carriers should also be finalised to handle the projected surge in regional travel.

Safety, Security, and Medical Preparedness

Security is often CAF's biggest concern. Multi-agency security centres (police, intelligence, and private security) should be established in each host city, linked by a shared regional communication network.

Designated 'AFCON Hospitals' in each city must have upgraded their trauma and emergency wings. Specialised medical evacuation (Medevac) protocols, including helicopter standby at venues, must be tested via live drills.

Security personnel must be trained in modern stadium crowd management techniques to prevent stampedes and ensure a ‘fan-friendly’ but firm security presence.

Delivery of Core Tournament Infrastructure and Services

This covers the tech and logistics that make the tournament run. A final audit of the guaranteed hotel room block for CAF officials, teams, and sponsors must be completed to ensure no price-gouging or capacity shortfalls.

Every stadium must have its own dedicated high-capacity backup power system (industrial generators and UPS) to ensure that the global broadcast is never interrupted by local grid failures.