Kenya’s preparations to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations have hit a major hurdle after a fresh inspection by the Confederation of African Football found that none of the country’s proposed stadiums currently meet the required standards.
The assessment, conducted in February 2026, shows that key venues are still far from achieving the Category 4 status needed to host matches at Africa’s biggest football tournament. The country’s infrastructure programme remains a work in progress, with facilities either under construction, undergoing upgrades, or yet to reach full readiness.
Among the venues inspected were Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, Nyayo National Stadium and the under-construction Talanta Stadium. Talanta stands out as a new project being built from scratch, giving Kenya a chance to meet CAF standards from the beginning. However, the stadium is still incomplete, with its timeline pushed to July.
CAF noted that while Nairobi has the capacity to support a major tournament, the scale of work required across stadiums remains significant. “While Kenya benefits from a strong metropolitan environment in Nairobi, the delivery programme remains exposed due to the scale of structural upgrades required, dependency on new construction and uneven readiness of training infrastructure,” CAF stated in its report.
The report also pointed to gaps in critical areas such as fan movement planning, separation of different groups inside venues, and the setup of operational zones for teams, officials and media. “While several upgrade works have already commenced, the overall scope of intervention remains extensive, requiring sustained progress to maintain alignment with the AFCON delivery timeline,” CAF added.
The installation of essential systems including floodlights, backup power and safety infrastructure is also yet to be fully addressed, further highlighting the work that lies ahead.
At Kasarani, major improvements are still needed, including work on the pitch, lighting, security and media facilities. Nyayo Stadium faces even greater uncertainty, with CAF suggesting it may be better used as a training ground due to its aging structure and lack of a clear upgrade plan.
With pressure mounting, Talanta Stadium is now seen as central to Kenya’s hosting hopes. At the same time, the country is yet to settle the required hosting fee of Ksh 3.9 billion, adding another layer of urgency to the preparations.
With time running out, Kenya must accelerate its efforts if it is to meet CAF standards and successfully host AFCON 2027.
