Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe visited Kenya on Friday to inspect the country’s two main venues for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). He said the tournament, which will open on 19 June and finish on 17 July, must be ready for testing in about three months, stressing that there is no room for delay.
During his tour of Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium and the newly built 60,000‑seat Talanta Stadium, Motsepe highlighted that while progress has been made, several facilities still fall short of CAF’s high standards. He cited the unfinished playing surface, incomplete broadcast cabling, inadequate floodlights and the need to reconfigure VIP areas to accommodate heads of state.
"There isn’t the slightest consideration of a postponement," Motsepe told BBC Sport Africa. "There should be no need because there is a deep amount of commitment." He added that the next assessment visit will take place in January and that the Kenyan organisers must finish all work by December to allow test matches.
Kenya’s cabinet secretary for sports, Salim Mvurya, echoed the urgency, promising that preparations would be accelerated and completed on time. He linked the AFCON bid to Kenya’s 2029 World Athletics Championships bid, describing the tournament as a legacy project that will boost tourism and economic transformation.
Motsepe’s remarks come after recent CAF tournaments have been moved from their original dates, including the Women’s AFCON in 2024 and the 2024 African Nations Championship. He made it clear that the 2027 timetable will not be reconsidered, stating, "There’s no plan B, there’s no plan C."
The next three months will be crucial for Kenya to meet CAF’s expectations and deliver a successful AFCON that supports the country’s broader sporting ambitions.
