Nicholas Musonye Reveals What Convinced Him Kenya Is Ready for AFCON 2027

Nicholas Musonye, chairman of the AFCON 2027 Local Organising Committee, has outlined the reasons behind the team’s confidence in delivering a successful tournament.

Nicholas Musonye noted that staging the African Nations Championship (CHAN 2024) provided valuable experience, particularly in strengthening security operations, which he identified as a key area of focus ahead of the 2027 continental showpiece.

He also admitted that organisers underestimated fan turnout during CHAN 2024, but emphasised that the lessons learned from that miscalculation have better prepared them for the scale and demands of AFCON 2027.

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Nicholas Musonye stated that the recently hosted African Nations Championship was, in his view, a strong success, even though he preferred to assess it modestly rather than exaggerate its achievements.

He pointed out that members of the media and other stakeholders witnessed firsthand how the competition was organised and managed, suggesting that the overall execution spoke for itself.

Nicholas Musonye explained that the event marked a significant milestone, as it was the first time in many years that Kenya had staged a tournament of such scale, and he believed the country rose to the occasion.

Nicholas Musonye highlighted the impressive fan turnout, noting that attendance figures in Kenya surpassed those recorded by co-hosts Uganda and Tanzania combined.

He added that the strong numbers recorded at Moi International Sports Centre demonstrated the country’s capacity to mobilise supporters and deliver a vibrant atmosphere, which he considered a major positive ahead of preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027.

“The general organisation, teams, transport, accommodation and all that. No one complained. The only issue which we had and it is very normal if you're organising an event like that one, you expect some challenges,” Nicholas Musonye told Sporty FM.

“The only challenges that we faced were nipped in the bud, which was security. Because we underestimated, we didn't know that the Kenyans would come in large numbers to watch our matches at Kasarani.”

Nicholas Musonye explained that during the opening two matches of the African Nations Championship, the unexpectedly large turnout created pressure on security personnel, leading to situations where some supporters gained access to the stadium without proper clearance.

He noted that such challenges can occur when hosting high-demand fixtures, especially after years without staging a tournament of that scale.

Nicholas Musonye added that organisers quickly responded by tightening security measures and introducing designated fan zones to accommodate supporters who were unable to secure tickets, thereby reducing congestion and preventing further incidents.

According to Musonye, the swift adjustments demonstrated the committee’s ability to adapt under pressure, and he maintained that the tournament ultimately met expectations.

He said the experience had strengthened their belief that Kenya is capable of delivering an even more refined and successful Africa Cup of Nations in 2027, while also expressing appreciation to the government for its strong backing throughout the process.

“So that's why in the first two matches you saw how the crowd overwhelmed our security and forced their way into the stadium. But that's normal. But we tried to contain it after the second match, where we had the fan zones to mitigate against the people who had no tickets, forcing their way into the stadium,” he said.

“So we managed so over and above for me, CHAN was very successful, and this has given us a lot of confidence that we can even do better for AFCON. So I really want to thank the government for going out of its way.”