Motsepe backs Kenya to deliver on Afcon promise

By  Toto Arege

Correspondent

NMG Sport

What you need to know:

• CAF president said he was encouraged by the progress made during his inspection of key facilities in Nairobi.
• Motsepe was equally positive about Tanzania’s preparations after meeting government and football officials in Dar es Salaam.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe has expressed confidence that Kenya will overcome any existing challenges and successfully host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

Kenya, will co-host the tournament with Uganda and Tanzania from June 19 to July 17 next year.

On Friday, Motsepe said he was encouraged by the progress made during his inspection of key facilities in Nairobi, including the 60,000-seater Talanta Stadium, and at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

“I’m very confident. I want to focus on the positives and what is encouraging: the good work I have seen. This will be the most historic tournament in the history of the competition,” Motsepe said.

The CAF boss acknowledged that some areas at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani Stadium still require renovation and upgrading but added that the challenges should not overshadow the progress made.

“There are challenges, shortcomings, weaknesses and failures, but I am confident, following the report I received last night (Wednesday) and what I have seen during my visit, that we will indeed host the most successful Afcon in the history of the competition,” he said.

Motsepe was equally positive about Tanzania’s preparations after meeting government and football officials in Dar es Salaam on Thursday.

Kenya’s preparedness has attracted scrutiny in recent months, particularly over the readiness of key facilities. Motsepe, however, dismissed the reports.

“There has been negative publicity in the media and discussions about whether Kenya will be ready. There is no Plan B or C. It happened during (the 2024 African Nations Championship) CHAN. I postponed it to give room for preparations, and it became a success, but I knew it would happen,” he said.

Motsepe said he is confident President William Ruto will deliver the tournament despite challenges.

“I had trust in President Ruto during CHAN, and he did not disappoint. I believed in him and in us, and despite the challenges, it happened,” he said.

He revealed that he has previously received a report on Kenya’s preparations but urged the Caf team to concentrate on identifying areas requiring improvement.

“I received a negative report about Kenya, but I told the Caf team that you will never succeed if they focus on the negatives and shortcomings. I asked them to identify the areas where we need to make changes and improvements, and we have improved. I am now more confident than ever before, based on what I have seen.”

Motsepe later met President Ruto at State House, Nairobi and discussed Kenya’s preparations for 2027 Afcon, and other football matters.

The Caf president will not visit Uganda during his current regional tour as he is scheduled to travel to the United States of America after completing his engagements in Kenya.

He said US entry requirements relating to travellers from countries that have recently reported Ebola cases had affected his itinerary, despite the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring Uganda Ebola-free on August 27.

The Caf boss said that he would return to the region in January for another assessment of preparations, describing the visit as his final inspection before the tournament begins.

“I will be coming back in January, and that will be the last time I visit until the opening match. This is a moment of pride,” he said.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, who had accompanied Motsepe, said the Kenyan government had agreed on a new work plan to ensure the remaining work at all facilities earmarked for the tournament is completed by December.

“This is a progressive visit. We have all looked at what is happening, identified areas that we need to address and, as government, we confirm that most of the areas earmarked for improvement have already been identified by our teams and we have agreed on a way forward,” said Mvurya.

“This way forward is very critical because we have also committed to a new work plan that will ensure we conclude everything by December. This will allow us to hold test matches at the various facilities,” he added.

Motsepe also called for unity among football stakeholders, saying a united football fraternity would be crucial to the success of Kenya’s national teams and the hosting of Afcon.

“I need the Kenyan national team to succeed and do well. That is the same message I give to every one of the 54 countries. Part of the issue is unity and togetherness,” said Motsepe.

He also noticed the absence of FKF vice-president McDonald Mariga during the inspection and asked about his whereabouts.

Motsepe stressed the need for stakeholders to put aside their differences and work together, using his family as an example.

“As a parent, you know your children, and you love them all deeply. No parent can love any child more than the others. We love all our children, and the aim is to unite and bring them together. On the differences, we will deal with them in December 2027 after AFCON, but by then they will not exist. Fifa is engaging us its importnat for us to have unity,” he said.

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have less than a year to complete infrastructure projects and finalise logistical arrangements ahead of the continental tournament.

Motsepe was accompanied during the inspection by Cecafa president Paulos Weldehaimanot Andemariam, Caf acting secretary general Samson Adamu, Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi, Local Organising Committee chairman Nicholas Musonye and FKF president Hussein Mohammed.

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