Which nations have never hosted AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations)

Kenya have never hosted AFCON in their history

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has taken place in different nations every year since it was first held in 1957. Kenya has never had the chance to serve as host.

Kenya, together with its neighbours Tanzania and Uganda, was not long ago awarded the chance to stage the 2027 African Cup of Nations.

Having fulfilled the standards set forth by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), African nations including Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa have all been selected to host the event.

The governing body of African football, CAF, chooses the nation that will host the AFCON since participating nations must fulfil many prerequisites. The Cameroonian government paid about 520 billion CFA (US$ 885 million) to host the AFCON in 2021.

This was used for road, hospital, airport, and hotel renovations and upgrades, as well as for the construction of new sports facilities. The new US$ 280 million, 60,000-seat Olembé Stadium in Yaoundé, the nation’s capital, hosted the first game (Pacinella, 2022).

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Furthermore, the 25,000-seat stadium in Garoua underwent renovations, and two new stadiums with a capacity of 20,000 seats each were built in Bafoussam and Limbé.

The official CAF delegation slept in the recently constructed, government-funded Krystal Palace, a five-star hotel in Douala. Eighty per cent of the hotels that hosted the teams, journalists, and guests were either newly constructed or had recently undergone renovations.

Usually, the long-term benefits of holding AFCON surpass the immediate expenses to the local economy. In Egypt, for example, the 2019 edition earned US$ 83 million. Enhancements to the transport infrastructure in well-known tourist locations like Alexandria, Suez, and Ismailia have been advantageous to both residents and tourists, elevating Egypt’s stature and drawing in more travellers.

To guarantee that Kenya’s candidature to host the AFCON is successful, several important issues must be prioritised and addressed.

Prioritising and concentrating on the most important issues that need prompt attention and resource allocation are essential. As a result, this blog delves into the particular areas of emphasis that are expected to make Kenya’s hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations successful and well-managed.

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