Editor's Review

Kenya will host the prestigious tournament for the first time.

The Office of the State House Spokesperson has disclosed that Kenya will host the 2027 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) opening and closing ceremonies. 

In a post on X on Sunday, July 7, which later was reposted by Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, the office noted that the ceremonies will be held at the Talanta Sports City Stadium.

The 60,000-seater stadium is taking shape after President William Ruto launched its construction in March 2024.

“The tremendous progress in the construction of the 60,000-seater Talanta Sports City, the prime Sports Arena being built at the Jamhuri Grounds, under CS Ababu Namwamba’s Sports Ministry. This is where the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2027 Afcon will be held,” read the statement by the Office of the State House Spokesperson.

While inspecting the construction of the Talanta Stadium later in March 2024, Namwamba disclosed that ultra-modern stadium will be ready by December 2025.

Sports CS Ababu Namwamba.

"I am pleased with the pace of work and confident that the ultra-modern, 60,000-capacity football-customised stadium will be ready on time by December 2025. On completion, Talanta Sports City will be peerless in this region and will proudly be among the crème de la crème of sporting arenas in the world," Namwamba stated on March 17.

In September 2023, Kenya won the bid to host the 2027 AFCON tournament alongside Tanzania and Uganda.

The three East African countries had submitted a joint bid to host the biggest football tournament in Africa and beat Senegal, Egypt, and Botswana, which had also bid to host the tournament.

The Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani and the Nyayo Stadium are among the stadiums that will host the prestigious tournament in 2027.

The two stadiums are currently undergoing refurbishments ahead of the tournament. Kenya will host the tournament for the first time.