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Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are stepping up preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with less than nine months to the start of the tournament.
The three East African countries will jointly host the competition from June 19 to July 17, 2027, marking the first time AFCON will be staged across three nations and its return to East Africa since Ethiopia hosted the tournament in 1976.
A Confederation of African Football (CAF) delegation recently spent eight days inspecting facilities across the three host countries, including stadiums, training grounds, hotels, airports, transport networks and other infrastructure.
The inspection team included officials responsible for competitions, safety and security, transport, media, television and logistics as CAF assessed the hosts' readiness for the continent's premier national-team competition.
In Kenya, attention is focused largely on the newly constructed 60,000-capacity Talanta Sports International Stadium in Nairobi, which is expected to serve as the country's flagship AFCON venue.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe expressed satisfaction with progress at Talanta during a recent visit, while also inspecting Kasarani Stadium, where construction work is still being completed.
Kenya's preparations, however, extend beyond the main stadiums. Training facilities, hotels, airport infrastructure and other supporting facilities are also being upgraded ahead of the tournament.
Nicholus Musonye, chairman of Kenya's AFCON 2027 Local Organising Committee, assured that Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania would be ready to host the competition.
He said work on the pitch at Kasarani Stadium was expected to be completed by the end of October, with the facility scheduled for handover in December.
Some concerns remain, particularly over training grounds and other supporting venues. Kenyan football fan Kelvin Kimaru said some training facilities were yet to reach the required level of readiness.
Moses Kamalik, an executive member of the Boxing Federation of Kenya, also identified Nyayo Stadium and Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret among facilities requiring further work.
In Tanzania, preparations are similarly focused on completing stadiums, training facilities and transport infrastructure connecting tournament venues.
Neema Msitha, chief executive of Tanzania's AFCON 2027 Local Organising Committee, said the country's stadium projects were more than 80 per cent complete on average and were expected to be ready for CAF handover in January.
Five training facilities are being developed in each host location, with Msitha putting their average completion at about 75 per cent.
The Tanzanian government has also intensified supervision. Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba directed contractors to accelerate work on AFCON training grounds after inspecting facilities in Dar es Salaam.
Road projects linked to the tournament have also come under scrutiny, with Works Minister Abdallah Ulega directing contractors handling roads connected to the competition in Arusha to work around the clock to meet deadlines and international standards.
Transport preparations include regional airlines, Air Tanzania and ferry services between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar to support the movement of teams, officials and spectators.
Uganda is working towards similar deadlines, with CAF infrastructure monitoring officer Patrick Ogwel saying infrastructure development is expected to be ready by December 31.
Hoima City Stadium has already been completed and commissioned, while Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium in Lira is scheduled for completion and commissioning by December.
Uganda's three principal AFCON venues are Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium, Hoima City Stadium and Mandela National Stadium. The country is also targeting the completion of 10 of its 12 training facilities before the end of the year.
The country's preparations have also come under pressure, with State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang directing the Uganda People's Defence Forces to accelerate construction at several training sites, including facilities in Gulu and Lira.
Following its latest inspection, the CAF delegation briefed President Yoweri Museveni on the state of preparations, including challenges affecting facilities outside Kampala.
For the three countries, the immediate challenge is now to transform construction progress into full tournament readiness.
AFCON demands more than completed stadiums. The hosts must also provide facilities and systems capable of handling broadcasting, media operations, security, transportation, hospitality, training and match-day logistics.
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have already gained some experience from jointly hosting the 2024 African Nations Championship, while representatives of their local organising committees also participated in an observer mission during the recent AFCON in Morocco.
The 2027 AFCON, however, will present a significantly larger operational challenge, with 24 national teams competing across the three countries for almost a month.
The coming months will therefore be critical as Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda work to complete, test and secure CAF approval for their facilities before teams, officials and supporters begin arriving.
For football fans across East Africa, the tournament represents more than an infrastructure test. It will provide an opportunity to watch Africa's leading national-team competition on home soil.
Kenyan football fan and Football Kenya Federation referee Gilbert Okeya summed up the anticipation: “We are happy because we are going to host, and we are going to have an opportunity to have live matches for AFCON in our country.”
