David GOMBE
The Confederation of African Soccer (CAF) inspection crew confirmed by its report, that not one of the proposed competitors stadiums from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda was able to host Africa’s greatest soccer competitors in 2027.
The East African nations are as a result of host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations however in keeping with CAF, the general evaluation signifies that the AFCON PAMOJA 2027 infrastructure programme throughout the three host nations is presently in a development, upgrading and corrective part.
Dr Christian Emeruwa (Head of Security & Safety) and Stephanie Totokra (Head of Infrastructure) who performed the inspections within the three nations in February this yr confirmed of their report that extra works have to be executed on the internet hosting venues.
The inspection crew is predicted to conduct one other inspection in August and imagine the next areas ought to be cleared and fulfilled;
•Confirmed authorities funding for infrastructure and operations.
•Substantial completion of stadium development and refurbishment works, with a minimal of 80% completion the place relevant, to permit for set up, testing, and operational readiness actions.
•Set up, integration and commissioning of vital stadium techniques, together with floodlighting, security and safety infrastructure, communication techniques, and emergency administration techniques.
•Upgrading and certification of all designated coaching amenities to satisfy CAF AFCON minimal technical, security, and operational requirements.
•Demonstrable progress on supporting infrastructure, together with entry roads, site visitors circulation plans, utilities, energy redundancy techniques, and perimeter safety installations round competitors venues.
•Affirmation of airport operational readiness, together with arrival/departure dealing with capability, VIP and crew processing procedures, and coordination with immigration and customs authorities.
•Affirmation of ample lodge lodging capability assembly CAF necessities for groups, officers, media, business companions and different event stakeholders.
•Institution and affirmation of a typical visa facilitation framework throughout the three host international locations to make sure clean and well timed entry for all accredited event stakeholders.
What’s in CAF Report
UGANDA
As of February 2026, not one of the proposed competitors stadiums in Uganda absolutely meets CAF Class 4 necessities.
Uganda’s AFCON 2027 infrastructure programme is presently in a combined part of development, upgrading and operational redesign.
Hoima Metropolis Stadium
A newly constructed stadium requiring operational redesign. Though the stadium construction is accomplished and operational, a number of main operational deficiencies had been recognized.
Key points embody:
*Absence of clear segregation between spectator classes;
*Cross-circulation between media, VIP, groups and basic spectators;
Non-compliant referee dressing rooms;
*Non-compliance of gamers’ dressing rooms;
*Media amenities beneath AFCON requirements;
*Blended zone incorrectly situated throughout the competitors space;
*Restricted operational buffer house as a result of stadium’s geographical location.
*Present place of the benches inflicting a serious view obstruction from the stands.
Mandela Nationwide Stadium
Based on CAF, Mandela Nationwide Stadium requires main upgrading works, indicating it presently presents main compliance gaps with CAF Class 4 necessities.
A big-scale improve mission has been proposed, together with:
•Partial demolition of the West Stand;
structural growth;
•roof substitute.
Nonetheless, the preliminary 15-month development timeline is incompatible with AFCON 2027 supply necessities. CAF has due to this fact really helpful revising the improve technique to:
•Maximise use of the prevailing structural body;
•Cut back development period to focus on completion by December 2026.
Akii Bua Stadium
The inspection crew didn’t go to the stadium.
Coaching Infrastructure
CAF reveals that the coaching infrastructure throughout the clusters additionally reveals uneven ranges of
readiness, with a number of proposed websites requiring rehabilitation or growth.
Coaching amenities throughout the Hoima and Kampala clusters stay notably uneven. A number of proposed websites are presently non-compliant with CAF coaching requirements.
Key challenges embody:
•Inadequate variety of compliant coaching grounds in Hoima;
Pitch rehabilitation necessities.
•Lighting set up and certification (≥500 lux);
•Completion of dressing rooms and technical amenities.
TANZANIA
Tanzania stands out from the three host nations in keeping with the inspection report, presenting a extra superior structural place. Nonetheless, its internet hosting mannequin introduces extra operational complexity as a result of three geographical clusters in Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Arusha.
“Whereas this configuration supplies geographic stability, it will increase the necessity for robust coordination mechanisms and dependable supporting infrastructure throughout the completely different host places,” the report suggests.
Benjamin Mkapa Stadium
The stadium requires main upgrading works to be able to meet AFCON competitors necessities.
Key upgrades embody:
Full pitch reconstruction and agronomic stabilisation;
Improve of stadium lighting to ≥2500 lux;
Set up of energy redundancy techniques;
Improvement of hospitality infrastructure (lounges, high quality of VIP and VVIP seats and so forth.)
Enchancment of spectator circulate segregation.
Integration of security and safety techniques.
Samia Suluhu Stadium
Samia Suluhu Stadium is presently essentially the most superior stadium mission inside Tanzania’s competitors portfolio, in keeping with the report.
Remaining dangers relate primarily to the set up and commissioning of vital operational techniques, together with:
Set up and certification of stadium lighting;
Completion of energy redundancy techniques;
Set up of security and safety infrastructure;
Broadcast and operational techniques integration.
Fumba Stadium
Fumba Stadium is a brand new stadium presently underneath development in Zanzibar.
Key publicity areas embody:
Spectator circulation design
Segregation between completely different spectator classes.
Early coordination of mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) techniques, together with lighting, energy and security infrastructure.
“With out early validation of those techniques, late-stage structural changes might happen, probably affecting the development timeline,” the report states.
Amaan Stadium
By August 2026 the Tanzanian authorities should present:
•A proper authorities determination on the stadium’s function inside AFCON 2027
•If retained as a contest venue, a validated architectural redesign demonstrating CAF compliance
•Alternatively, reclassification of the stadium as a coaching facility, Coaching Infrastructure (anticipated stage of completion >75%)
The August inspection will confirm:
•Affirmation of the ultimate portfolio of coaching websites throughout all clusters
•Lighting certification ≥500 lux
•Pitch rehabilitation and agronomic stabilisation programmes carried out.
•Availability of pitch upkeep gear
•Operational dressing rooms and technical amenities
Supporting Infrastructure
The next supporting infrastructure components should additionally exhibit measurable progress:
•Entry roads to the Arusha stadium underneath development
•Hall electrification and CCTV safety protection plans carried out
•Confirmed utility connections (water, electrical energy, drainage)
•Validated lodge lodging capability
Airport logistics coordination and transport planning
KENYA
As of February 2026, not one of the proposed competitors stadiums in Kenya absolutely meets CAF Class 4 necessities. Kenya’s AFCON 2027 infrastructure programme is presently in a combined part of development, upgrading and operational changes.
Moi Worldwide Sports activities Centre – Kasarani, an current stadium, is present process main upgrading works.
Talanta Sports activities Complicated, a brand new stadium, is presently underneath development.
Nyayo Nationwide Stadium, an current stadium with restricted feasibility as a contest venue.
Moi Worldwide Sports activities Centre- Kasarani Standing
The improve scope consists of:
•Reconfiguration of spectator circulation and segregation;
•Improvement of hospitality areas (VVIP, VIP and skyboxes);
•Relocation and restructuring of the Venue Operations Centre (VOC);
Reconstruction of the competitors pitch, together with drainage and irrigation techniques;
•Set up of a brand new lighting system compliant with 3000 lux broadcast requirements;
•Enchancment of security and safety techniques, together with CCTV, entry management and hearth detection;
Upgrading of media amenities, together with the press convention room and media centre.
•The CAF inspection crew believes that whereas a number of improve works have already commenced, the general scope of intervention stays in depth, requiring sustained progress to take care of alignment with the AFCON supply timeline.
Talanta Stadium
•Structural completion reaching at the least 80%, bodily verified.
•CAF validation of purposeful zoning, together with spectator flows, crew areas, media areas and VOC location.
•Integration of vital techniques throughout the development programme (lighting, energy redundancy, safety).
•Contractual affirmation of procurement for all main technical techniques.
Based on the report, the mission represents a key element of Kenya’s AFCON internet hosting technique. Nonetheless, the stadium stays uncovered to dangers usually related to giant new-build initiatives.
Nyayo Nationwide Stadium
Based on the report, the stadium in its present state doesn’t meet CAF Class 4 necessities and no detailed renovation grasp plan was submitted.
At this stage, the stadium might extra realistically be thought of as a coaching floor.
Kenya’s Coaching Infrastructure
The coaching websites embody: Kasarani Annexes, Ulinzi and Police Sacco, all inside Nairobi Metropolis.
The present stand is;
•Lighting certification ≥500 luxurious
•Rehabilitated pitches with drainage and irrigation techniques
•Operational pitch upkeep gear storage amenities.
Newly developed coaching websites demonstrating:
•Sports activities Academy 1 and a pair of accomplished with rising pitches
•Talanta Annexes 1–3 reaching ≥60% development progress.
•Consolidation of a practical and executable coaching website portfolio, eradicating immature or non-mobilised initiatives.
