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CAF president Patrice Motsepe has ruled out any possibility of postponing the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations despite concerns over preparations in co-host Kenya.
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are due to stage the tournament, which will return to East Africa for the first time in 51 years. The opening match is scheduled for 19 June, with the final set for 17 July.
With stadiums expected to be ready for testing within about three months, Motsepe has urged the hosts to increase the pace of preparations.
Motsepe demands faster progress
Speaking to BBC Sport Africa after inspecting facilities in Kenya, Motsepe said there had been “very good progress” but acknowledged that some venues still fell short of CAF’s required standards.
“Even though we’ve got nine months, we need to start using those stadiums in January next year to test them and to see what further improvements are required,” he said.
CAF expects the infrastructure, stadiums, hotels, roads and training pitches to meet world-class standards.
Motsepe inspected Kasarani Stadium and the newly built 60,000-capacity Talanta Stadium in Nairobi after beginning his assessment tour in Tanzania.
Kasarani remains one of the main areas of concern, with limited progress reported in several sections of the stadium and its associated training facility.
The playing surface has yet to be laid, while work is also needed on broadcast cabling, floodlights and hospitality areas.
‘There’s no plan B’
Motsepe also highlighted the need to review some stadium arrangements because of security requirements for VIPs and heads of state.
Despite the outstanding work, he was emphatic that CAF would not reconsider the tournament schedule.
“There isn’t the slightest consideration of a postponement,” Motsepe said.
“There should be no need because there’s a deep amount of commitment.”
He later added: “There’s no plan B, there’s no plan C.”
Kenya’s sports cabinet secretary Salim Mvurya has promised that the outstanding work will be completed on schedule.
“I assure CAF and Kenyans we will accelerate the preparations for AFCON 2027,” Mvurya said.
“We will conclude everything by December to be sure we can have test matches in the various facilities.”
December will be a key deadline, with Motsepe scheduled to return to the region for a final assessment in January.
Kenya sees wider sporting opportunity
The pressure comes against a backdrop of recent CAF tournaments being moved from their original dates because of infrastructure, weather or scheduling concerns.
However, Kenya views AFCON 2027 as more than a football tournament. The country was recently awarded the 2029 World Athletics Championships, and Mvurya linked that success to its preparations for the continental football tournament.
“One of the reasons why Kenya won the 2029 World Athletics Championship bid is because we are hosting AFCON. Therefore this is a legacy,” he said.
Mvurya also described the tournament as an opportunity for tourism and wider economic activity.