Western based leaders question region's omission from AFCON assignment
2nd October 2023
Only Eldoret was selected as a potential host outside Nairobi.
- The leaders feel that Western and Nyanza should also have been included in the bid which was recently accepted by CAF.
- The leaders also questioned the decision to have Eldoret as one of the venues citing political interference.
- They ended by pleading with the Kenya Football Federation (FKF) and the President William Ruto-led administration to reconsider their decision.
By Tony Kipkorir
Stakeholders from the western Kenya region
have appealed to the Ministry of Youth Affairs, The Arts & Sports to
consider them in hosting some of the matches during the upcoming 2027 Africa
Cup of Nations tournament.
The leaders feel that Western and Nyanza
should also have been included in the bid which was recently accepted by Confederation of African Football (CAF).
According to their joint statement released
on Sunday, the stakeholders questioned the inclusion of Eldoret which they argued
is not an ideal location to host the continental showpiece.
“Kisumu is one of the natural venues of
AFCON outside Nairobi and not Eldoret. For maximum revenue and sport marketing,
Kisumu fits the bill. Kisumu is centrally located in soccer-loving western
Kenya,” the statement read.
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The leaders also questioned the decision to
have Eldoret as one of the venues citing political interference.
“How will Kenya benefit from the AFCON when the matches will be played in empty stadiums? Is the choice of Eldoret political?
Kisumu has two big stadiums of international standards. We have
the ultra-modern Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium and Moi Stadium,” the
statement continued.
They ended by pleading with the Kenya
Football Federation (FKF) and the President William Ruto-led administration to
reconsider their decision.
“We appeal to the national government and
the Kenya Football Federation to review the decision and include Kisumu and
Kakamega as AFCON venues,” he ended.
The statement came less than a week after
the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said yes to the East Africa AFCON
Pamoja Bid.
The 2027 tournament is expected to be
played in various stadiums spread across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
However, a lot of work has to be done,
particularly in the construction and rehabilitation of more stadiums and the
setting up of training facilities in the country.
According to CAF, the hosting nations must have at least three training grounds located near match venues and stadiums with a capacity ranging from 15000 to 40000.