Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya chairing a meeting of the PAMOJA AFCON 2027 National Steering Committee at Talanta Plaza, Nairobi on August 25, 2026 . [Jonah Onyango, Standard]
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has challenged Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and the Harambee Stars technical team to develop an ambitious preparation plan capable of taking Kenya beyond hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to competing for the continental title.
Mvurya said Kenya must use the home advantage to build a strong team capable of progressing through the knockout stages and ultimately lifting the trophy when the tournament is hosted jointly by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
“We are not just hosting the Africa Cup of Nations; we have to win. Therefore, the Football Kenya Federation and the technical team of Harambee Stars will equally be looking at their roadmap,” Mvurya said.
He spoke on Tuesday after chairing a meeting of the PAMOJA AFCON 2027 National Steering Committee at Talanta Plaza, where preparations for the continental tournament were discussed.
Mvurya said FKF must produce a clear roadmap covering player identification, technical preparations and adequate build-up matches to ensure Harambee Stars are ready for the tournament.
“One key item is to see how Harambee Stars can have a very, very good preparation. A good roadmap that will assure a win, either in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finally lifting the trophy,” he said.
Kenya will automatically qualify for the 2027 AFCON finals as one of the three hosts, alongside Uganda and Tanzania. The tournament is scheduled for June 19 to July 17, 2027, marking AFCON's return to East Africa for the first time since Ethiopia hosted the competition in 1976.