As the three East African neighbours Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania prepare to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), it is becoming clearer that they will have to work jointly more than ever.
Caf, the organizers of Afcon, say that despite a hugely successful African Nations Championships (Chan) last August, the three countries worked independently. The Pamoja project, ironically, didn’t even have a basic base like a joint media operation or website and the same won’t suffice for Afcon.
“The three countries showed up and organised a competition we are all proud of,” Caf’s Acting General Secretary Samson Adamu, said during the close of the two-day Afcon Kick Off Meeting between Caf and the LOCs of the Pamoja hosts at Mestil Hotel, Nsambya on Thursday.
Caf’s delegation included officials running functional areas like tournaments and operations, infrastructure, safety and security, commercial, ticketing, media, procurement, and finance.
Adamu also held a separate closed door meeting at Serena with the sports ministers of the three countries, their football federation presidents, and chairpersons of their local organizing committees (LOCs) to lock down a joint operational structure.
“It (Chan) was a great learning experience for all of us as it was the first time we were organising a tournament involving three hosts. It (Chan) was very strategic for us and the most important thing was to learn from the things we experienced.
“We agreed with all governments that there will be an oversight committee headed by the three ministers of sports, three presidents of federations, three LOC chairmen, and Caf itself to deal with all strategic matters. These include the areas that are common with all three countries like visas, mobility, tax, security measures, and even infrastructure.
“You want the players and fans to feel that they have the same experience whether they are in Kenya or Uganda or Tanzania. For the players, the quality of pitches must be the same. The oversight committee is going to ensure, through regular meetings, that there is uniformity across three countries,” Adamu said.
In a joint communique by Cabinet Secretary of Sports in Kenya Salim Mvurya, and Minister of Sports in Uganda Peter Ogwang and Tanzania Paul Makonda, this agreed upon “coordination framework” should guarantee “efficiency, accountability, and seamless decision-making across the three countries.”
The three Ministers also “agreed to hold periodic consultative meetings to finalize and operationalize the proposed Pamoja Visa Framework, intended to facilitate seamless travel across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania during the tournament period. The framework shall further consider special entry arrangements, visa exemptions, expedited clearances, and harmonized customs and immigration facilitation for participating teams, officials, accredited media, sponsors, suppliers, and tournament-related goods and equipment.”
Implementation
The second tier of operations will be “a steering committee composed of CEOs of all three countries’ LOCs, football leaders, and all different functional leads from Caf to implement what will be discussed from the oversight committee” while the third tier will consist of the already existing national LOCs of each country “to make sure that everything is aligned under different sub-committees to implement things nationally.”
“Then we have the secretariat(s) as the fourth tier. We are in the right pyramid to advance the competition,” Adamu said.
As the meetings “to dip down into preps of Afcon 2027” ended, Caf left with a sense that the three hosts are committed to push in the right direction.
“Our objective was to align on priorities, framework, timelines, and the execution of Pamoja. Coming off a very successful Afcon in Morocco, it is important that we focus on this Afcon that promises to be an amazing one as it is a unique one with three hosts. It presents a unique opportunity to show East Africa in the best light.
“We are very committed and delighted to push for this competition to be the most successful Afcon in the history of Caf. I can guarantee and assure you that we have the strongest level of commitment from the three governments and the football communities after meeting the sports ministers and FA presidents,” Adamu told the press after the meeting.
All hands on deck
Prior to his appointment as GS at the end of March, Adamu was serving as Caf director of tournaments and events. This competition feels like a personal project for him to deliver.
“We (Caf and host nations) are in a very comfortable place. We are very confident on what we can deliver and it is going to be a very successful tournament.
“I am also very excited and committed to having a successful tournament. Having served as director of tournaments for such a long time, it will be a shame if I don’t put all my energy and everything into making sure this tournament is a success. It is also the right time as this will be my first Afcon in this position (as GS). There is no room of failure.”
That will sound like music to the ears of those backing East Africa to host the prestigious tournament. Caf, however, are going to pile the pressure with the three hosts expected to complete infrastructure development at least by December.
Caf carried out an inspection in February and it left chilling reviews, especially for Uganda, in terms of readiness of Mandela National and Hoima City Stadiums, plus the training facilities.
“Hosting an Afcon is a journey not an event. The deadlines are not clear black and white. But we are working hand in hand with host nations to ensure timelines will be respected.
“We have no plan of a point of no return if they (deadlines) are not met because we are not going to wait until August to follow up. We will follow up weekly and we will have people, including engineers, who will be permanently based in each of the three countries to support and work together on all the sporting and non-sporting infrastructure. For now, we are advancing in the right direction, Adamu said.
