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With preparations in full swing, all eyes are now on whether Mombasa, with its rich history and cultural charm, will grace the 2027 AFCON's itinerary.
Kenya Football Federation [FKF] Executives are pushing for the coastal city of Mombasa to host games at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), despite not being included in the initial bid.
Kenya, along with East African neighbours Uganda and Tanzania, secured the rights to host the 2027 AFCON through the 'Pamoja Bid'.
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Part of the winning bid, the Kenyan government had included the Moi International Sports Centre (MISC) in Kasarani, Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, and the Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, to accommodate this continental showdown.
Yet, the clamour to include Mombasa in this lineup is growing louder.
Gabriel Mghendi, a member of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) National Executive Council representing the Coast region, emphasized that the aforementioned stadia shouldn't exclusively bear the mantle of hosting.
"I have faith we will get more stadia ready before the tournament," Mghendi voiced optimistically to Star Sports Kenya.
Mghendi has highlighted Mombasa's status as an iconic city in the region as a key feature of why it should be included among the places that will feel the AFCON fever.
Mghendi revealed ongoing dialogues involving the Mombasa County Government, the Kenyan government, and the FKF to refurbish the Mombasa Stadium.
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Ironically, the stadium has laid in ruins since it was closed for renovation over ten years.
"We would like to have at least four or five matches played in Mombasa because we have everything in place to host teams except a standard pitch," he added.
The undercurrents of these appeals revolve around the potential missed opportunities for Mombasa.
Another Executive from Mombasa Athman Mwamwiri, underscored the immense boost that hosting AFCON would bring to Kenya's football narrative.
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He, however, expressed concerns about Mombasa missing out due to the lack of a certified football facility.
"Even if we do not host a game, we need to at least host a team in Mombasa and have them train here as their residential camp," Mwamwiri opined.
Reiterating this sentiment, Mwamwiri appealed to Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, urging him to ensure the city doesn't remain on the sidelines.
"I would like Governor Abdulswamad to push for this, through cooperation with the national government," he stated.
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