David GOMBE

The Confederation of African Soccer (CAF) inspection group confirmed via 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 resulting from host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations however in accordance with CAF, the general evaluation signifies that the AFCON PAMOJA 2027 infrastructure programme throughout the three host nations is presently in a building, 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 12 months confirmed of their report that extra works must be finished on the internet hosting venues.

The inspection group is predicted to conduct one other inspection in August and consider the next areas needs to be cleared and fulfilled;

•Confirmed authorities funding for infrastructure and operations.
•Substantial completion of stadium building 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 methods, together with floodlighting, security and safety infrastructure, communication methods, and emergency administration methods.
•Upgrading and certification of all designated coaching services 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 methods, and perimeter safety installations round competitors venues.
•Affirmation of airport operational readiness, together with arrival/departure dealing with capability, VIP and group processing procedures, and coordination with immigration and customs authorities.
•Affirmation of ample resort lodging capability assembly CAF necessities for groups, officers, media, business companions and different event stakeholders.
•Institution and affirmation of a standard visa facilitation framework throughout the three host international locations to make sure easy 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 blended part of building, 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 have been recognized.

Key points embrace:

*Absence of clear segregation between spectator classes;
*Cross-circulation between media, VIP, groups and normal spectators;
Non-compliant referee dressing rooms;
*Non-compliance of gamers’ dressing rooms;
*Media services under AFCON requirements;
*Blended zone incorrectly positioned throughout the competitors space;
*Restricted operational buffer area as a result of stadium’s geographical location.
*Present place of the benches inflicting a serious view obstruction from the stands.

Mandela Nationwide Stadium

In response to CAF, Mandela Nationwide Stadium requires main upgrading works, indicating it presently presents main compliance gaps with CAF Class 4 necessities.

A big-scale improve undertaking has been proposed, together with:
•Partial demolition of the West Stand;
structural growth;
•roof substitute.
Nonetheless, the preliminary 15-month building timeline is incompatible with AFCON 2027 supply necessities. CAF has subsequently advisable revising the improve technique to:

•Maximise use of the prevailing structural body;
•Scale back building length to focus on completion by December 2026.

Akii Bua Stadium

The inspection group didn’t go to the stadium.

Coaching Infrastructure

CAF reveals that the coaching infrastructure throughout the clusters additionally exhibits uneven ranges of
readiness, with a number of proposed websites requiring rehabilitation or improvement.

Coaching services throughout the Hoima and Kampala clusters stay notably uneven. A number of proposed websites are presently non-compliant with CAF coaching requirements.

Key challenges embrace:

•Inadequate variety of compliant coaching grounds in Hoima;
Pitch rehabilitation necessities.
•Lighting set up and certification (≥500 lux);
•Completion of dressing rooms and technical services.

TANZANIA

Tanzania stands out from the three host nations in accordance with the inspection report, presenting a extra superior structural place. Nonetheless, its internet hosting mannequin introduces further operational complexity resulting from three geographical clusters in Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Arusha.

“Whereas this configuration supplies geographic steadiness, it will increase the necessity for robust coordination mechanisms and dependable supporting infrastructure throughout the completely different host areas,” the report suggests.

Benjamin Mkapa Stadium

The stadium requires main upgrading works in an effort to meet AFCON competitors necessities.

Key upgrades embrace:

Full pitch reconstruction and agronomic stabilisation;
Improve of stadium lighting to ≥2500 lux;
Set up of energy redundancy methods;
Improvement of hospitality infrastructure (lounges, high quality of VIP and VVIP seats and many others.)
Enchancment of spectator stream segregation.
Integration of security and safety methods.

Samia Suluhu Stadium

Samia Suluhu Stadium is presently probably the most superior stadium undertaking inside Tanzania’s competitors portfolio, in accordance with the report.

Remaining dangers relate primarily to the set up and commissioning of vital operational methods, together with:

Set up and certification of stadium lighting;
Completion of energy redundancy methods;
Set up of security and safety infrastructure;
Broadcast and operational methods integration.
Fumba Stadium

Fumba Stadium is a brand new stadium presently below building in Zanzibar.

Key publicity areas embrace:

Spectator circulation design
Segregation between completely different spectator classes.
Early coordination of mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) methods, together with lighting, energy and security infrastructure.
“With out early validation of those methods, late-stage structural changes might happen, doubtlessly 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 position 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 degree 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 services
Supporting Infrastructure

The next supporting infrastructure parts should additionally reveal measurable progress:

•Entry roads to the Arusha stadium below building
•Hall electrification and CCTV safety protection plans carried out
•Confirmed utility connections (water, electrical energy, drainage)
•Validated resort 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 blended part of building, 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 below building.
Nyayo Nationwide Stadium, an current stadium with restricted feasibility as a contest venue.

Moi Worldwide Sports activities Centre- Kasarani Standing

The improve scope contains:

•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 methods;
•Set up of a brand new lighting system compliant with 3000 lux broadcast requirements;
•Enchancment of security and safety methods, together with CCTV, entry management and hearth detection;
Upgrading of media services, together with the press convention room and media centre.
•The CAF inspection group 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 no less than 80%, bodily verified.
•CAF validation of purposeful zoning, together with spectator flows, group areas, media areas and VOC location.
•Integration of vital methods throughout the building programme (lighting, energy redundancy, safety).
•Contractual affirmation of procurement for all main technical methods.

In response to the report, the undertaking represents a key element of Kenya’s AFCON internet hosting technique. Nonetheless, the stadium stays uncovered to dangers sometimes related to massive new-build tasks.

Nyayo Nationwide Stadium

In response to 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-about as a coaching floor.

Kenya’s Coaching Infrastructure

The coaching websites embrace: Kasarani Annexes, Ulinzi and Police Sacco, all inside Nairobi Metropolis.

The present stand is;

•Lighting certification ≥500 luxurious
•Rehabilitated pitches with drainage and irrigation methods
⁠•Operational pitch upkeep gear storage services.

Newly developed coaching websites demonstrating:

•Sports activities Academy 1 and a pair of accomplished with rising pitches
•Talanta Annexes 1–3 reaching ≥60% building progress.
•Consolidation of a practical and executable coaching website portfolio, eradicating immature or non-mobilised tasks.