The AFCON ’27 bid team led by CS Hon. Ababu Namwamba, EGH was accorded a grand reception, following the team’s triumphant campaign for the rights to host AFCON ’27 under the banner East Africa Pamoja Bid, jointly with Uganda and Tanzania.While addressing the press, CS Ababu thanked the heads of state from the three East African regions for their unwavering support for the bid.

“I want to send my tribute to the three Presidents of our three countries who have been champions of this bid and have led our nations from the front. We believe that the passion and commitment demonstrated in this bid will be manifested in the preparations to host AFCON ’27,” beamed CS Ababu, “ I also wish to applaud the technical teams from the three nations, with whom we have had a tripartite engagement, working round the clock as well as the three football federations from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.”He said that the E.A. Pamoja bid’s success was not a mere fluke but a manifestation of hard work, commitment, and deliberate plans for its success.

“We did not win the rights by fluke. We deserve every right, every chance that CAF has granted the E.A. Pamoja bid. From the outset, we assured the people of Kenya that we had a good bid, confident that we had put together a formidable bid that ticks every box put by CAF, right from infrastructure, security, safety, communication, and travel. We actually had the best bid, thus won the rights.”

CS Ababu reiterated his belief in the element of the bid to translate into a very successful tournament adding that CAF was Duty-bound to ensure equitable development of football in African continent.“The distribution of tournament must be done in a manner that ignites the growth of football in the continent. We want to thank CAF for agreeing with us that it's important to circulate the hosting of these tournaments across Africa so that we fairly develop football across Africa,” he added.CS Ababu called for all hands on deck as the preparation journey to AFCON ’27 kick on. “We must prepare our teams in a way we have never before. We must be ready with a good team that will challenge for the top honors in this tournament,” he quipped.

The CS added that winning the rights to host the continent’s premier football extravaganza presented the region with an opportunity to develop key infrastructure and strengthen the cultural, bilateral, and multilateral ties between the three East Africa Powerhouses.“We want to deploy AFCON to strengthen the ties of East Africa even further. This bid is an ignition for integrated Africa, championed through the East Africa community. This is the only region that has a regional passport and we want to use this tournament to strengthen that spirit of integration, to improve mobility within our borders, and to bring to fruition the East Africa Tourist Visa for ease of movement,” he remarked.

On his part, PS Ismail Maalim lauded the impact that hosting of AFCON will have on Kenya's economy and especially the direct impact on the youth. “AFCON 2027 hosting presents a historic moment to Kenya, the governments of Tanzania, and Uganda in sharing the joy of jointly hosting Africa’s epic sporting moment. This is Kenya’s moment, that sets the stage for our youth to take advantage of entrepreneurship opportunities that come with hosting such a continental event,” he said. “This opportunity showcases the perfect example of Sports Diplomacy at work and is a case study and a test that we must pursue with precision to ensure we do not miss a single step as the preparation journey begins.”

The PS added that the hosting will go a long way in cementing our ties and friendship with the sister nations to develop sports and business together. “We must offer the world an unforgettable sporting, tourism and creative experience. We want to improve air access, improve that connectivity, water transport.  It is indeed a great opportunity for the bonds of E.A. to become stronger.”