In Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, the news was received with so much pomp. In Nairobi, Kenya, before the announcement, there were intercessory prayer sessions at the State House. In Tanzania, the people also celebrated, their celebrations stemmed from the victory of the Pamoja.
The three nations had jointly competed with other African football superpowers; Senegal, Egypt, Algeria as well as Botswana to bid for the AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS (AFCON) 2027 hosting rights. The theme of their audacious bid was titled PAMOJA, a Swahili word which literally and figuratively means TOGETHER or AS ONE. They were the underdog in the bid battle and ranked as outsiders. Many did not believe they stood a chance because of the status and position of their football and sports in general.
Unlike the 2025 AFCON bid, which Morocco was the runaway favorite after all the contending nations withdrew their bids before the voting and leaving Morocco has the only contender. The three nations are from Eastern Africa, a region with low history of football glory. The last time the region was honored with the hosting rights was over fifty years; (Ethiopia 1976), then the tournament never heralded much fanfare or glamour. The 2027 bid was a daunting one for the tripartite arrangement, Egypt and Algeria were in contention; these two African football powerhouses are readily available with the required stadias and infrastructures. Senegal, the reigning champions of the AFCON was also in the mix. Botswana was also adamant of hosting the continental showpiece even after Namibia pulled out of their joint bid. The stage was set for a competitive show among these nations of African descent. Then, just a day to the announcement, Algeria, a major and leading contender abruptly withdrew from contention.
Eventually, the day came, the voting commenced and at the end, the CAF President; Patrice Motsepe announced the joint bid of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania as the host of the AFCON 2027 tournament. Shortly after the revelation, questions and opinions started propping up from the football community; “Will the three host nations get free slots?”, “Do they have football fans and fields?”, “it will be a boring event”, “None of the host nations will get to the next round etc.”
Truly for the trio, it is an uncharted territory. None of these nations have been in this place before. Kenya came close in 1996, when they won the initial hosting rights for AFCON that year but the then Government was skeptical and nursed the fear of losing the steam of power because the opposition controlled football. The then FA president was an opposition figure in politics. There’s some mileage in their skepticism. Organization was sabotaged with politics and sentiments and CAF had to strip of Kenya the hosting rights.
The Pamoja bid was a passionate one. The victory is a resounding one, it is the result of the goodwill of a region. The CAF President described the goodwill from the Leaders of the three countries, expressing that they displayed massive dedication in their bid. CAF pointed out that their display of solidarity is unmatched and their effort was the most alluring. It’s the first time three nations will jointly host the AFCON showpiece.
The tournament will have a drastic impact in many sector, mostly the tourism industry. The tournament will have a lasting effect on the region’s tourism industry. The three nations have, over the years, developed a reputation as a desirable destination for tourists. The body also described the people of East African as the most beautiful and receptive. The pamoja bid has shown that their hospitality cannot be doubted.
The Pamoja bid represents an intense unity over the hills and through the woods, it captures the true essence of togetherness and solidarity. It’s a great display of teamwork that will further cement the integration of the Eastern region of Africa. It’s a huge moment for the region, it’s an opportunity to showcase the passion and commitment they have for the sport. It is a major milestone for these three nations.
The three nations must now display the true ideals of the PAMOJA, they must come together once again to ensure they organize a memorable AFCON tournament devoid of any scandal. It is a golden chance to come out of the shell and harness the honour of the Pamoja again.
JUBRIL HAMMED
(jubrilhammed96@gmail.com)
