Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda submitted an audacious triple threat bid to CAF to host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027.
The joint East African effort was one of the four efforts and will have competition from Algeria, Botswana and Egypt.
“CAF has received a declaration of interest from six countries in the bidding process to select the host nation for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027….,” reads the statement from CAF.
The bidding nations
1. Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania (Joint Bid)
2. Botswana
3. Egypt
4. Algeria
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is still receiving bids from its member nations until 23rd May 2023 and will inspect facilities the following month.
It is crucial to note that only Tanzania, among the East African joint bid, has a stadium meeting CAF standards and requirements.
Magnificent: Tanzania’s Benjamin Mkapa Stadium
This past week alone, we had the Minister of Sports Peter Ogwang apologize to the nation that Uganda won’t be able to host any home games as soon as promised.
“I am pained to announce that Uganda Cranes’ AFCON home qualifier game scheduled for June 2023 will be played in Cameroon. I take full responsibility and apologize to Ugandans for failing to fulfill my promise,” Minister Ogwang noted.
In a developed governance system, the minister would be called to resign for misleading the country and then failing to deliver on his promises.
Challenge of quality infrastructure
This bid process is happening as CAF has yet to deliver final confirmation on who will host the 2025 AFCON after Guinea was stripped of the rights.
Guinea was found to be lagging in terms of infrastructure preparedness.
In light of that realization, one wonders how ready Uganda will be, knowing that the last time the National Stadium was functional, the country was finding mass COVID vaccination centers.
Kenya and Tanzania will most likely provide the sports facilities as Uganda arranges the after-party life for the AFCON. After all, Uganda is the party center of the continent.
By: James Kavuma
Courtesy Photos
