CAF President Patrice Motsepe to inspect Kenya’s AFCON 2027 preparations
By Joel Masibo, September 17, 2026Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe will visit Kenya on Friday, September 18, 2026, as part of ongoing inspections and discussions ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Motsepe’s visit to Kenya will form part of a two-day tour of the three East African co-hosts, with Tanzania scheduled to host him on Thursday, September 17, 2026, before he travels to Kenya the following day.
According to CAF, the South African football administrator will hold talks with the Kenyan government and inspect facilities earmarked for use during the continental tournament.
The visit comes as Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda intensify preparations for the first AFCON tournament to be jointly hosted by three East African countries.
CAF said the oversight visits are intended to assess the progress being made by the host nations while identifying areas that require additional attention ahead of the competition.
The continental football governing body will also use the inspections to determine whether preparations remain in line with its operational, infrastructure and competition requirements.
In Tanzania, Motsepe will visit the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Thursday and meet government officials to review the country’s preparations. He will also address the media at a press conference scheduled for 11:30am local time.
His subsequent trip to Kenya is expected to place the country’s stadiums and other competition facilities under scrutiny as preparations enter a crucial phase.
Kenya has been undertaking major rehabilitation and construction works at several venues as it seeks to meet CAF requirements before the tournament.
The country’s preparations have included upgrades at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, Nyayo National Stadium and other facilities earmarked for football and training activities.
The AFCON 2027 tournament, branded PAMOJA, is expected to provide a major test of Kenya’s sporting infrastructure and organisational capacity when the continent’s premier national team competition arrives in East Africa.
Motsepe’s inspection will therefore offer an opportunity for CAF officials and Kenyan authorities to review the status of ongoing projects and establish whether outstanding areas can be addressed within the required timelines.
The CAF president’s visit follows a high-level PAMOJA ministerial kick-off meeting involving the sports ministers of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, the three football associations and representatives of the respective Local Organising Committees.
The meeting reaffirmed the three countries’ commitment to delivering the tournament jointly.
With the competition approaching, the latest inspection is expected to provide an important update on Kenya’s readiness and the work still required before the country welcomes Africa’s top national teams in 2027.