William Ruto vows Kenya will deliver successful 2027 Afcon after Patrice Motsepe talks

Kenyan President William Ruto has pledged his government's commitment to delivering a successful 2027 Africa Cup of Nations after holding talks with Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe in Nairobi.

The meeting brought together senior officials from CAF, the Kenyan government, Football Kenya Federation and the Local Organising Committee overseeing preparations for the tournament.

Kenya will co-host the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations alongside neighbours Uganda and Tanzania, with the three East African nations set to stage the continent's biggest football competition together for the first time.

Ruto thanked Motsepe for what he described as the CAF president's continued support for African football and assured him that Kenya remained fully committed to making the tournament a success.

Kenya's Sports Minister Salim Mvurya, Football Kenya Federation president Hussein Mohammed and members of the Afcon 2027 Local Organising Committee also took part in the discussions as preparations continue to gather pace.

• Host preparations step up

The meeting forms part of CAF's ongoing engagement with the host nations as it monitors infrastructure projects, organisational planning and overall readiness ahead of the finals.

For Kenya, hosting the tournament is seen as an opportunity to showcase its sporting infrastructure while raising the profile of football across the country.

The three co-hosts have stepped up preparations in recent months, with governments investing in stadium renovations, training facilities and transport infrastructure to meet CAF's hosting requirements.

Motsepe has repeatedly said he wants the 2027 tournament to leave a lasting legacy across East Africa through improved facilities and greater opportunities for young footballers beyond the competition itself.

Kenya last staged a major CAF event when it hosted the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in 2018, while the 2027 edition will mark the country's first time hosting the senior continental championship.

The tournament is expected to attract thousands of supporters from across Africa and beyond, providing an economic boost for Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania through tourism, hospitality and related industries.