CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba has issued a stern warning to Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, stating that their ability to successfully host the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) will heavily influence whether they retain the rights to stage the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday as he toured the three countries to assess preparations, Mosengo-Omba said the East African trio must prove they can deliver on infrastructure and logistics ahead of the CHAN tournament, now slated for August 2025.
“If this region doesn’t deliver CHAN, then it will be very difficult to trust it to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations,” he cautioned.
The tournament had originally been scheduled for February but was pushed forward due to concerns raised by CAF over inadequate facilities. Kenya, in particular, is still lagging behind in completing key infrastructure projects including stadiums and training grounds.
So far, only the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi has been cleared by CAF as suitable for use, while other venues remain under renovation.
Despite the setbacks, Mosengo-Omba acknowledged noticeable progress, saying he was encouraged by what he saw during his inspection.
“Nobody can be sure about tomorrow, but from what I’ve seen today—the huge progress—I see no reason the tournament can’t be played here,” he noted, adding that consistency will be key.
“Previously, Kasarani had just a few seats, but now it’s fully seated. And there’s grass now where there was bare ground just a few months ago. Some pitches look so good, you could play golf on them,” he remarked.
Work is expected to intensify in June, with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) aiming to hand over all facilities to CAF by July — just weeks before the tournament begins.
CHAN 2025 will be the second time the tournament is held in the region, following Rwanda’s successful hosting in 2016.
