AFCON 2027: Stadium Completion Timeline Revealed as Kenya Steps Up Preparations

Anthony Lung’aho, the CEO of the Kenya Local Organising Committee for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027, has provided an update on when the country’s stadiums are expected to be ready ahead of the continental tournament.

Set to run from June 19 to July 18, 2027, the competition will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, with all three nations racing against time to meet requirements ahead of a scheduled Confederation of African Football inspection in August.

For Kenya, matches will be staged at the Moi International Sports Centre and Talanta Stadium, with Lung’aho stressing that preparations are progressing in line with CAF protocols to ensure readiness.

Speaking on the sidelines of the high-profile CAF meeting in Kampala, Uganda, Anthony Lung’aho explained that the timeline for completing the stadiums was not externally imposed but rather part of previously agreed hosting requirements tied to securing the rights for the tournament.

He noted that these timelines align with standard guidelines set by the Confederation of African Football, which all host nations are expected to follow.

Anthony Lung’aho stated that all venues are expected to be fully functional by the end of the year, stressing that facilities cannot still be undergoing construction at the time of hosting such a major competition as the Africa Cup of Nations 2027.

Lung’aho added that once completed, the stadiums must undergo a sufficient period of testing and operational use to ensure systems, logistics, and matchday operations run smoothly.

He further emphasised that this preparation phase is critical in guaranteeing that East Africa is fully equipped to deliver a successful tournament, with all infrastructure meeting the required standards well before kickoff.

“This is not a deadline that we’ve been given; it’s the milestone that we had already agreed to, the hosting rights protocol. This is the CAF standard protocol. By December 31st, everything should be operational,” Anthony Lung’aho said.

“You cannot host AFCON in a stadium under construction; it must be operational. You have to give it at least six months of proper operational training on the facilities to ensure everything is in order and that East Africa is ready to host the tournament.”

Anthony Lung’aho admitted that coordination during the 2024 African Nations Championship between Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania was not as strong as it needed to be, noting that key stakeholders did not work as closely together as expected.

He said there is now a clear intention to strengthen partnerships, improve coordination, and adopt a more structured and intentional approach to collaboration moving forward.

“During CHAN, there wasn’t as much collaboration as there should have been. Going forward, we want to work jointly and be more enhanced and deliberate,” he added.