• Caf announced on Wednesday that Kenya will host the continental tournament together with her neighbours Tanzania and Uganda.
• The three EAC countries were competing with bids by Algeria, Botswana and Egypt.
Image: MIFA
Foreign and Diaspora Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has welcomed the Confederation of African Football's selection of Kenya as a joint host of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations popularly known as Afcon.
Caf announced on Wednesday that Kenya will host the continental tournament together with her neighbours Tanzania and Uganda.
The three EAC countries were competing with bids by Algeria, Botswana and Egypt.
Mutua said he received the news of the award of the rights to the EAC sister countries with joy.
"This is a big honour to our region and testament to the fact that when we work together, we can achieve greater things," he said in a statement Wednesday evening.
"Sports diplomacy holds a special place in our global engagements. The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs looks forward to playing its role fully to make this historic event a memorable one," he added.
Afcon has since the 1957 edition been held every two years, switching to even-numbered years in 1968 and returning to odd-numbered years in 2013.
Caf said Morocco, the first African World Cup semi-finalists at the 2022 tournament, will host the continental bonanza in 2025.
Senegal won the last edition held in 2021, beating Egypt 4-2 on penalties after extra time played at Olembe Stadium, Yaoundé, Cameroon on February 6, 2022.
It was Senegal's first Africa Cup of Nations trophy, having previously lost the final twice, in 2002 and 2019.
For Kenya, it is the second time it has won the right to host the continental outing.
In 1996, Kenya won the bids to host the Afcon as well as the 2018 Africa Nations Championship finals but was stripped of the rights on both occasions for lack of venues.
Kenya boasts of only two international stadiums; the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani constructed in 1987 and the Nyayo Stadium constructed in 1983.
But its joint bid with Tanzania and Uganda assures its retention of the rights to host the highly competitive footballing extravaganza.
Uganda's top stadia include Mandela Stadium (Namboole), MTN Omondi (Lugogo), Nakivubo Stadium, Mutesa II Stadium (Wankulukuku) and St Mary’s Stadium.
Tanzania's top five include the National Stadium, Amaan Stadium, Mkwakwani Stadium, The Jamhuri Stadium and Azam Complex Stadium.
Only stadiums that have been inspected and approved by Caf may be selected for use in any official Caf competition and Fifa competition African qualifier.
Among the requirements is that the field of play must be smooth and level and the stadium must be equipped with either a natural grass, hybrid, or artificial turf.
"The grass height must be 20-30 mm," the rules state.
President William Ruto directed that all ministries must work collaboratively towards ensuring that Kenya delivers on its joint host mandate
"Many people did not believe that we had a chance of hosting the AFCON 2027 because of the state of our football and the state of our sports in general but I am very proud today that Kenya together with our partners in Kenya and Uganda have won this chance," the President said.