East Africa reaffirm commitment at CAF Afcon 2027 workshop in Kampala

The workshop, organised under the guidance of the Confederation of African Football, brought together key stakeholders from across the region after a recent CAF assessment of infrastructure readiness in the partner nations.

The “Pamoja” initiative, a joint effort by East African countries, aims to deliver a historic, multi-nation AFCON tournament.

The three Host Nations expressed their appreciation to CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe and the CAF team for their support, guidance, technical support, and confidence in the PAMOJA partnership and reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with CAF in delivering a successful and memorable AFCON.

Speaking during the meeting, Moses Magogo, President of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations, expressed optimism that ongoing infrastructure projects will not only meet AFCON requirements but also position the region to host future international tournaments.

“The investments being made today could have long-term benefits for sports development across East Africa.”, he emphasized

Echoing the call for unity, Football Kenya Federation boss Hussein Mohammed, urged member nations to work collaboratively in building facilities that will serve future generations, framing the bid as both a sporting and developmental milestone.

However, cautionary voices also emerged. Wallace Karia, President of the Tanzania Football Federation, warned that without proper planning and adherence to timelines particularly ahead of a critical December deadline the project risks falling short of expectations.

Uganda’s Minister of Sports reinforced confidence in the region’s capabilities, pointing to the successful organization of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) as evidence that the “Pamoja” countries can deliver a major continental tournament.

Yet, Samson Adamu, Acting Secretary General of CAF, offered a measured perspective. While acknowledging CHAN’s success, he underscored the considerable gap between organising CHAN and hosting AFCON,

“AFCON requires significantly higher standards in infrastructure, logistics, and coordination”, he noted.

“Time remains a critical factor, with preparations needing to accelerate”, Adamu added.

As momentum builds behind the “Pamoja” bid, the coming months are expected to be decisive. With regional cooperation strengthening and infrastructure projects underway, East Africa’s ambition to host AFCON 2027 appears within reach, but only if execution matches ambition.