Ababu Namwamba, the sports cabinet secretary, reaffirmed Kenya's commitment to hosting the 2027 African Cup of Nations with its neighbors Tanzania and Uganda on Thursday afternoon.
Speaking after he arrived from Cairo, Egypt when the Confederation of African Football (CAF) awarded the three East African nations the hosting rights for the 2027 AFCON, Ababu claimed that preparations for the event went above and beyond the requirements set down by the body overseeing continental football.
The East Africa Pamoja Bid won on merit, according to the CS, whom Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa supported. The member nations are prepared to confirm this through the meticulous preparations that will soon be underway.
"I am aware of previous disappointments that bring about the spirit of skepticism and pessimism. We lost AFCON 96 to South Africa. We lost CHAN 2018 and Kenyans to some extent are justified to doubt how we are going to do it this time. Is it going to be taken away again? I am assuring you this one is not going anywhere," said Ababu.
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"We want to not only host the 2027 AFCON, but to compete with purpose against the other top African teams. That is why we will not only prepare in terms of infrastructure, but also our teams – the Harambee Stars, Taifa Stars and Uganda Cranes," he added.
The CS emphasized that winning the proposal presents the co-hosts with hitherto unheard-of chances to upgrade their athletic facilities.
"We want to take advantage of this chance to modernize our sporting facilities to compete with the rest of Africa and the rest of the globe. Additionally, we seek to tighten the ties that bind East Africa's integration. When discussing a unified Africa, East Africa is the spark; we made that evident to the CAF, Ababu said eloquently.
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"As a government, we have worked nonstop and closely with our separate federations. Therefore, I commend the three football federations in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, whose leadership has supported us at every turn, said Ababu.
Mwendwa, on his part, spoke vehemently in support of the government's efforts in the successful campaign for the right to host the AFCON in 2027.
"Our administration supported us. That was the crucial component. The PSs and all three of the ministers were present. Mwendwa emphasized the necessity for the preparations to begin right away. "We had the entire government with us, we had commitment, and that is what tipped the scale," he added.
And football and athletics met. In addition to welcoming the Kenyan group from Cairo, world 800 m champion Mary Moraa was also present at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. She used the occasion to implore Kenyans to show patriotism regarding the Pamoja Bid.
"Let's rejoice; this is a time for us to be proud. No negative talk, please. Since we are all one huge family, let's support one another.
Beldine Odemba, head coach of the Harambee Starlets, was also present and reaffirmed how the Starlets had been motivated by the winning bid going into the WAFCON 2024 qualifying phase.
The girls are pretty motivated. The entire football community is motivated. We were fortunate to obtain the rights. We appreciate the Ministry and Federation for providing more opportunities for football development.
Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda are competing to meet the CAF deadline for infrastructural assessment.
Kenya will aim to prevent a repetition of 1996 and 2018, when they were selected to host the AFCON and CHAN, respectively, but had those rights revoked for needing the necessary sports infrastructure.
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