Kenya Taps Into Senegal's Football Expertise Ahead of AFCON 2027

Kenya has sought to borrow some football expertise from Senegal which has been excelling in the sport in recent years.

President William Ruto hosted his Senegal counterpart Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye at State House, Nairobi on Tuesday where the two leaders discussed how they can strengthen ties on a number of sectors, among them sports.

Kenyan football is the one that will benefit the most with President Ruto looking to leverage on Senegal’s knowhow as the country prepares for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations which it will co-host with neighbours Uganda and Tanzania.

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“As Kenya prepares to co-host the AFCON 2027, we welcome Senegal’s support and experience in hosting and excelling in continental football tournaments,” said Ruto.

“We look forward to learning from Senegal’s expertise in infrastructure development, event management and building lasting sports legacies.”

Senegal has become a dominant football force in Africa from both junior and senior level with the country winning the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, 2023 AFCON U17, the same year they won AFCON U20, while they claimed the 2022 African Nations Championships.

The Teranga Lions also sealed their place at the 2026 World Cup, making it three straight, and have some of Africa and the world’s top players plying their trade in top leagues across Europe.

“We commit to exploring joint initiatives such as exchange programmes for coaches and athletes, co-hosting regional tournaments, and establishing joint training camps,” added Ruto.

“By combining Kenya’s strength in athletics and Senegal’s prowess in football, we aim to uplift our young people and enhance cultural diplomacy.”

Kenya got a taste of what it feels to host a continental football competition during CHAN 2024 and there were some teething problems like crowd control and ticketing challenges that they hope to address before AFCON 2027.