Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania leaders rejoice after successful Afcon bid
Thursday September 28 2023
Patrice Motsepe, president of the African Confederation of Football, announces the host countries for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations during a ceremony held in Cairo, Egypt on September 27, 2023. PHOTO | KHALED DESOUKI | AFP
East African leaders on Wednesday hailed the awarding of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) to a joint bid by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
It is the first time the premier sport event in the continent will be staged by three countries after Ghana/Nigeria (2000) and Equatorial Guinea/Gabon (2012) co-hosted previous editions.
The trio won a contest also involving Botswana, Egypt and Senegal after favourites Algeria withdrew on the eve of the vote, saying they had a "new strategy for developing football".
Egypt have hosted the biennial tournament five times, most recently in 2019, and Senegal once, in 1992. Botswana were hoping to stage the Afcon for the first time.
"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).
Read: Tanzania qualifies for Afcon finals
"I congratulate everyone who played a role to make sure our country secures this rare opportunity.
"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."
Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni said it will promote the countries and positively impact their economies.
"I received good news that our joint bid with Kenya and Tanzania to host the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in 2027 was successful. I thank the organizers for putting up a good case for East Africa. This will promote our countries and positively impact our economies, especially the tourism sector," Museveni said on X.
I received good news that our joint bid with Kenya and Tanzania to host the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in 2027 was successful. I thank the organizers for putting up a good case for East Africa. This will promote our countries and positively impact our economies, especially… pic.twitter.com/GDptvA54k2
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) September 27, 2023
Kenya's Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua also took to X to express his delight at 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 (Caf).
Read: Ruto receives Kenya's joint 2027 Afcon bid
"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."
Uganda's Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang told AFP it was "a great moment" not just for his country but East Africa.
"The bid by the three countries is a sign of unity, and shows the great potential in a united front as a region," he said.
Nuur Mohamud Sheekh, a spokesman for the East African regional bloc Igad, rejoiced in a social media post that the Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda bid had been successful.
"This show of confidence is a testament to our region's passion and commitment to sports," he said.
"We eagerly anticipate harnessing the unifying power of sports to foster harmony across our region and the African continent at large."