President William Ruto with Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye/ HANDOUTPresident William Ruto has hailed Kenya’s partnership with Senegal as a bold step towards strengthening the nation’s sporting ecosystem and preparing it to successfully co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
The Head of State made the remarks on Tuesday while receiving Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye at State House, Nairobi.
In 2027, Kenya will co-host the continental football showpiece alongside regional neighbours Uganda and Tanzania, marking the first time in Afcon history that three countries will jointly stage the tournament.
The only previous co-hosting occurred in 2000 when Ghana and Nigeria shared the honours, with Cameroon lifting the trophy after edging Nigeria 4-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw in regulation time.
Ruto said tapping into Senegal’s rich football culture and hosting experience will be instrumental as Kenya prepares to deliver a world-class tournament.
“As Kenya prepares to co-host Afcon 2027, we welcome Senegal’s support and experience in hosting and excelling in continental football tournaments,” Ruto said.
Senegal hosted the 1992 Afcon, where Cote d'Ivoire were crowned champions after edging Ghana 11-10 on penalties following a goalless draw in regulation time.
Three decades later, the West African giants clinched their maiden Afcon title in 2021 in Cameroon, beating Egypt 4-2 on spot kicks.
Ruto noted that Kenya stands to gain valuable insights from Senegal, particularly in infrastructure development, event management and sports legacy planning.
“We look forward to learning from Senegal’s experience in infrastructure development, event management, and building lasting sports legacies,” he added.
Senegal’s 50,000-seater Diamniadio Olympic Stadium, the country's national stadium, will host the 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games.
Kenya, on its part, is banking on the ongoing construction of the Talanta Stadium and the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, as its main venues for Afcon 2027.
As part of their joint preparations, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania successfully co-hosted the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) in August, a crucial dry-run event that tested facilities and logistics.
Morocco triumphed at the tournament after edging Madagascar 3-2 in a thrilling final at Kasarani.
Ruto revealed that the partnership with Senegal will extend beyond football to include broad-based sporting collaborations.
“We commit to exploring joint initiatives such as exchange programmes for coaches and athletes and establishing joint training camps,” he said.
The President emphasised that combining Kenya’s global reputation in athletics with Senegal’s football pedigree will redefine the sporting landscape of both nations.
“By combining Kenya’s strength in athletics and Senegal’s prowess in football, we aim to uplift our young people and enhance cultural diplomacy,” he concluded.
