Fresh set of challenges await Kenya’s preparations to co-host next year’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), following a majorly unsatisfactory report from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).Download our MozzartSport App For More NewsAs per information gathered by Nation Sport, CAF’s recent inspection visit to the country on 26 to 28 August has left Kenya once again racing against time for the 19 June to 17 July tournament, this after being deemed to have fallen short of most of the targets set by the team in their previous trip in February.##NAJAVA_MECA_9930448##Sources close to the situation indicate that the recent visit has exposed glaring gaps in the state of stadia, and accompanying training facilities.The Moi International Sports Centre (MISC) Kasarani, which is one of three main venues expected to host the tournament, elicited major concern from CAF, who noted that only 10 percent of the work they asked Kenya to do in their last visit, had been done.The report indicates that the CAF team were “unimpressed” with the fact that Kenya had only been doing pitch replacement at the facility, since February.Kenya's stadiums not fit to host 2027 AFCON – CAF report revealsKenya’s Government, in its last update on the stadium late last month, indeed noted that its second round of transformation involved the installation of a new hybrid Bermuda-grass pitch, and advanced drainage system.In addition to those upgrades, Kasarani, as per the Government, had also achieved a 99%-complete spectator canopy, fully replaced seating, upgraded VIP and VVIP lounges, 2,000-lux floodlighting, animation screens and VAR facilities.Government issues update on Kasarani Stadium renovation ahead of AFCON 2027 [PHOTOS]As for Talanta Stadium, the CAF delegation is reported to have been “impressed with the strides made” to get it ready for the tournament, but still made several recommendations aimed at improving it.For that reason, the new facility received a score of 80 per cent, which is the minimum completion percentage that CAF set during its February visit.On training facilities, Nation Sport reports that the CAF delegation failed to visit some of them, after learning that “no progress” had been made on them since February.Gor Mahia players rally fans ahead of Pyramids clashThe team only visited Ulinzi Sports Complex, Police Sacco Stadium, Kasarani Annexes A and B, and Talanta Sport City Annexes 1,2 and 3.In CAF’s February report, Kenya had also presented Kenya Academy of Sports 1 and 2, and Kirigiti Stadium as training facilities.Then, CAF noted that there was uneven readiness at training facilities, recommending close monitoring of construction progress, and pitch establishment.##NAJAVA_MECA_9930459##As per the CAF timelines, Kenya is expected to have all the earmarked facilities fully operational by January 2027, to stand a chance of co-hosting the tournament alongside neighboring Tanzania and Uganda.CAF is soon expected to publish a detailed report on the status of the three countries.
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