The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has taken place in different nations every year since it was first held in 1957. Kenya has never had the chance to serve as a host. Kenya, together with its neighbors Tanzania and Uganda, was not long ago awarded the bid to host the 2027 African Cup of Nations. Having fulfilled the standards set out by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), African nations, including Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa, have all been selected to host the event.
The governing body of African football, CAF, chooses the nation that will host the AFCON since participating nations must fulfill a number of prerequisites. The Cameroonian government paid about 520 billion CFA (US$ 885 million) to host the AFCON in 2021.
This was used for road, hospital, airport, and hotel renovations and upgrades, as well as for the construction of new sports facilities. The new US$ 280 million, 60,000-seat Olembé Stadium in Yaoundé, the nation’s capital, hosted the opening game (Pacinella, 2022). In addition, two new 20,000-seat capacity stadiums were created in Bafoussam and Limbé, while the 25,000-seat capacity stadium in Garoua was restored. The official CAF delegation stayed up in the Krystal Palace, a brand-new five-star hotel in Douala, which was government-funded. Eighty percent of the hotels that hosted the teams, journalists, and guests were either newly constructed or had just undergone renovations.
Usually, the long-term benefits of holding AFCON surpass the immediate expenses to the local economy. In Egypt, for example, the 2019 edition earned US$ 83 million. Improvements to transportation networks in key tourist locations such as Alexandria, Suez, and Ismailia have benefitted inhabitants and visitors alike, enhancing the country’s prestige and bringing more people to Egypt.
In Kenya’s quest to host the AFCON, many critical issues need to be addressed and prioritized to ensure the successful hosting of the event. Prioritizing and concentrating on the most important issues that need prompt attention and resource allocation are essential.
As a result, this blog delves into the particular areas of emphasis that are expected to make Kenya’s hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations successful and well-managed.
Interventions and Gaps in Hosting AFCON
For the first time ever, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda have teamed up to host the AFCON in East Africa. The goal of this endeavor, known as the “Pamoja” bid, is to successfully host the AFCON. Since Kenya and its neighbors won the bid, the primary responsibility will be to make sure there are adequate locations for practices and games. The three nations may experience infrastructure issues because they haven’t historically hosted important sporting events. Kenya previously gained the opportunity to host the African Nations Championships (CHAN) in 2018 and the Africa Football Championship (AFCON) in 1996, however both continental tournament finals were unsuccessful because the venues were not up to international standards.
Uganda has not had a stadium certified by CAF for over three years. Namboole was taken off the list in 2020, and an overhaul was suggested by the CAF inspectors. The stadium has not been rebuilt by Uganda. There is just one stadium that satisfies international criteria among the three countries, and that is Tanzania’s stadium, certified by CAF. This is contrasted with a nation like Egypt, which has at least five stadiums that have CAF approval.
With a population of fewer than 2 million, Gabon served as the host nation for the 2017 competition. Locals and visitors were able to exhibit a variety of Gabonese cultural practices, including cuisine, music, and dance.
According to CAF, Kenya was not prepared to host the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN), despite having gained the right to do so. Both the nation’s and the tournament’s reputation suffered as a result of the lack of preparation. Hosting a successful international sporting event would have improved the nation’s economic standing at the time, as this chance arose after the election. Furthermore, because it was unprepared, Kenya lost its bid to host the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996. Playground conditions were discovered to be subpar. The nation and its football activities suffered from this setback. As a result, there is more work to be done to guarantee that the nation is ready to host the AFCON in 2027.
Key Areas of Focus in Hosting AFCON
To ensure a successful hosting of AFCON, a focus on the following areas is critical:
Infrastructure & Stadiums
It is important to build or renovate contemporary stadiums that adhere to CAF standards. It will be necessary to renovate the current stadiums and maybe construct new ones in various locations in order to host the event and give participants, officials, and spectators an unforgettable experience. According to CAF regulations, a nation must have six stadiums to host the AFCON: two must hold 40,000 people, two more must hold 20,000, and the final two must hold 15,000 spectators.
Over the years, a number of AFCON host nations have had to endure changes. For example, in 1957, while the nation’s infrastructure was still growing, Sudan hosted AFCON. Sudan’s athletic facilities have seen substantial upgrades throughout time. Egypt hosted the second Africa Cup of Nations in 1959 despite having few stadiums and other facilities. This was the first time that African nations invested in football infrastructure. Egypt showed that it was prepared to host the event by modernizing its stadiums and lodging by 1986. Additionally, Egypt’s 2006 AFCON hosting and world-class stadiums attest to the nation’s dedication to infrastructural development.
The most recent hosting in Egypt in 2019 featured modern stadiums, modernized transit, and improved lodging. From 1963, when Ghana hosted the first championships, to 1978, when it updated its facilities, and to 2008, when it used sites of the highest caliber. Over time, advancements have been achieved in the areas of travel, safety, and housing.
Accommodation and Transport
There must be a enough supply of well-maintained lodging choices, such as hotels and guesthouses, to handle the inflow of tourists. To guarantee seamless tournament logistics, effective transportation networks, including as highways, airports, and public transit, must also be enhanced. This is largely because of the flood of people who come during the competition, and it is advised that they get the right care. When Tunisia hosted its inaugural event in 1965, the only lodging options were budget hotels and guesthouses.
Utilizing road networks served as the primary means of transportation. However, the arrival of international hotel chains meant that there were a lot more lodging alternatives available for the 1994 event. The transportation network was enhanced by the upgrades made to the highways and airports. By 2004, Tunisia’s infrastructure had developed to the point where the nation had high-end hotel options. Modern highways and other transportation hubs form part of the network.
Security and Safety
It is crucial to guarantee the protection and safety of athletes, referees, spectators, and guests. To provide a secure and joyful atmosphere for everybody, the Kenyan government must develop strong security measures, including as crowd control techniques, thorough risk assessments, and cooperation with law enforcement authorities. It could not be appropriate to host due to political unrest or other security concerns; Libya withdrew from hosting the AFCON in 2017. A major athletic event could not be held in the country due to the ongoing conflict between militias vying for control of Tripoli, the capital.
Because of the level of terrorism in the region, Mali, the host nation in 2002, was forced to implement strict safety measures. This illustrated how important it is to provide a secure setting for major athletic events. Considerable precautions were taken to guarantee participant safety in the instance of South Africa, which hosted AFCON in 1996 during the post-apartheid period. To assure safety, there were rigorous access controls, increased monitoring, and copious police presence. The security protocols put in place for the 2010 FIFA World Cup were advantageous for the 2013 competition. Security measures mainly depended on collaboration between security agencies, sophisticated technology, and widespread surveillance.
Marketing and Promotion
In order to create buzz and draw attention to its bid, Kenya should create a thorough marketing and promotional plan. By interacting with the media, making use of internet channels, and working with prominent individuals, Kenya might become more visible and project a favorable picture of its hosting ability. The success of AFCON is largely due to the growing number of viewers that tune in to the tournament on television.
When Sudan hosted the AFCON in 1957, there was little worldwide reach and little television coverage compared to the widespread coverage that exists now, especially with the development of technology. Fans from all over the world could watch the event because to the widespread TV coverage and internet streaming that Egypt provided as the host in 2019. The development of media and technology throughout time has led to advancements in the manner the AFCON is watched.
Sixty million people watched the group stage and round of 16 of the 2021 AFCON on AfroSport TV, while ninety million saw the final match between Senegal and Algeria on BeIN Sports. This demonstrates that effective marketing will draw large audiences to watch the games held throughout the world. Kenya must concentrate on these vital areas. Western nations have demonstrated proficiency in promoting FIFA events by using tactics for branding, promotion, successful marketing campaigns, and ticketing to enhance participation and tourism.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Hosting the African Cup of Nations is a huge chance to highlight the nation’s potential, encourage economic expansion, and advance sports development. Therefore, it’s critical to gather enough resources to satisfy the operational, logistical, and infrastructure requirements of hosting while also ensuring everyone’s comfort, safety, and enjoyment. More travelers will come to the nation as a result of AFCON, spending money. The amount of jobs produced and the economy are both multiplied by this.
Furthermore, the positive legacy that AFCON left behind as the host of an event of this magnitude might inspire further events to be conducted in the nation, which could lead to the addition of employment and the upgrading of current infrastructure. The AFCON competition offers a chance to present African culture to the globe in addition to increasing tourism, which may have positive social effects on the host country.
