Leaders representing East Africa have celebrated the announcement of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations being granted to a collaborative bid by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The upcoming edition of the premier sporting event on the continent will be unique, as it will be the first time that three countries collaborate to host it, following the co-hosting experiences of Ghana/Nigeria in 2000 and Equatorial Guinea/Gabon in 2012.
Out of the participating nations, including Botswana, Egypt, and Senegal, the trio emerged as the winners, as Algeria, the expected favorites, withdrew from the competition, citing a “new strategy for developing football”.
Egypt boasts a record of hosting the biennial tournament five times, most recently in 2019, while Senegal had a single hosting stint in 1992. Botswana, in contrast, was vying for their inaugural opportunity to host the AFCON.
‘We are grateful to have the opportunity to host AFCON 2027 in collaboration with Kenya and Uganda,’ Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said on X (formerly Twitter).
‘I congratulate everyone who played a role in making sure our country secures this rare opportunity.’
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‘I now order the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Sports to make proper preparations, including to complete the construction of two new stadiums in Dodoma and Arusha on time, to the required standards.’
Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua also took to X to show his satisfaction with the AFCON returning to East Africa for the first time since Ethiopia hosted it in 1976.
‘It is quite exhilarating to receive the news that the joint bid by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to host the 2027 (AFCON) has… been accepted by the Confederation of African Football.’
‘The Pamoja (together) bid fronted by President @WilliamsRuto and the other heads of state was one of its kind as it underscored our readiness to work together to ensure the competition comes to East Africa.’
Nuur Mohamud Sheekh, who serves as the spokesperson for the East African regional group IGAD, celebrated the triumph of the Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda bid in a social media update.
‘This show of confidence is a testament to our region’s passion & commitment to sports,’ he said.
‘We eagerly anticipate harnessing the unifying power of sports to foster harmony across our region & the African continent at large.’