)
The Sports Cabinet Secretary said the three East African nations will share the amount equally and pay after their bid is accepted
Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has revealed that Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will need up to Ksh12 billion to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations once their bid is accepted by Confederation of Africa Football (CAF).
The three nations submitted their bid, known as EAC Pamoja bid, on Wednesday, setting in motion the process that will potentially see East Africa host the continental tournament for the first time in four years’ time.
There have been questions on whether the three countries will find the cash to fund the tournament plus improving the infrastructure given each of them will be required to have three stadiums that meet international standards as well as an equal number of training fields.
Namwamba, however, exuded confidence that East Africa will be successful, having received commitment from the governments of all three nations.
“It was important for us to make sure we submit the report as early as possible. I can verify that we have officially submitted our report,” Namwamba said on Citizen TV on Thursday.
“The quality of football in the country has greatly gone down and due to that, we have lost so many chances of hosting big events. In 1996, we missed out on AFCON and again on CHAN in 2018.
“As the Kenya Kwanza regime, we have a big plan to revive sports and that is why when we are doing this.
“The budget needed is $90m (Ksh12.3 billion) from the three countries by CAF. Egypt, Algeria who are going it alone will pay that whole amount but the EAC Pamoja bid will share the amount equally, so that is $30 million (Ksh4.1 billion) for each country.
“I have met the Sports Ministers from the other two countries and we have agreed on everything. We should pay this money after our bid is accepted.”
His sentiments comes days after President William Ruto had on Monday assured the country, and the region, that the joint bid will be a success while giving it his blessings.
Questions, however, still remain on the governments’ plans to improve infrastructure, especially the stadiums, given competing nations Algeria and Egypt are ‘ready’, having hosted the 2023 CHAN and 2019 AFCON respectively.
The interested nations have until May 23 to submit their bids after which CAF will determine who to award the hosting rights following a number of inspections on facilities and infrastructure as well an assessment on the governments’ commitment.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)