'He is Ignorant' - Ivorian Journalist Under Fire for Claiming AFCON 2027 In East Africa Will Be a 'Downgrade'

Veteran Ivorian journalist Mamadou Gaye has faced a backlash from African fans following his claims that the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will be a downgrade.

During a pre-AFCON 2025 final press conference, which was addressed by CAF president Patrice Motsepe, Gaye stirred the hornet’s nest when he sensationally claimed that East Africa has no proper road network and lacks the capacity to host AFCON and that the tournament should be taken elsewhere.

“The next one is going to three East African countries, where I have already been. No road within the countries, some of my colleagues from East Africa told me from one country to another one it will take you two days to drive,” Gaye claimed in his question to Motsepe.

“My biggest worry is, are we not going to lower the standard by going to East Africa or what is the solution forward?

“We are in Morocco, the AFCON was supposed to be in Guinea, because they were not ready, it was moved to Morocco. And in this 24-nation AFCON, I think in Africa maybe four or five countries have proper infrastructure to host it. Is there any possibility that it will be taken away from those three countries or postponed again?” he further posed.

Motsepe was straightforward in his response, saying: "I am confident that the AFCON in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania will be enormously successful. We are not going to take the competition away from these countries."

Following on that, fans across Africa have hit back at Gaye, describing him as aloof and out of touch with the realities in Africa while asking him to apologise for his lack of respect for East Africa.

“@RealMamadouGaye what did you just say about East Africa??? You owe East Africa Kenya, Uganda & Tanzania an apology,” Kenyan hotelier Mohammed Hersi posted on X.

“In Confederation of African Football @CAF_Media final briefing before tomorrow's finals you exposed your ignorance about your own continent. You claim to have visited East Africa but at the same time you say you were told we have no roads and it can take you even 2 days between places. You think that Afcon 2027 in Kenya Uganda Tanzania will seriously downgrade football.”

“We hosted the best CHAN in the history of the competition. Maybe he is worried that the true potential of East Africa is finally getting the credit it deserves. I respect him as a senior in the industry but that question was just crazy to say the least,” Football Kenya Federation head of communication Jeff Kinyanjui said.

“Kenya and Tanzania have better infrastructure than most West African countries, excluding maybe Nigeria only,” responded Zimbabwean Takudzwa Chinakidzwa.

“Gabon successfully hosted the Afcon in 2017. It is way behind Kenya in development and many other factors but the tournament was great. Let’s stop this nonsense of self-deprecating ourselves as Africans. Kenya is ready,” said an X user by the name El Patron.

“The question was a disrespect to Tanzania and her people, Uganda and her people and also Kenya and her people. Very stupid question. I'm shocked at how these journalists fail to frame simple questions in a manner which doesn't undermine anyone. These countries have towns and city and there has never been a time where AFCON was played in a rural village or township,” Phillix M. Kokwele noted.

“They should travel Africa to know Africa. Football again is not meant for the rich. It is played by everybody. It is myopic to look down on certain countries because you live in a developed one,” commented an X user by the name I am South African

“This is rubbish. Even if it’s true, how are these countries supposed to develop their sporting infrastructure if we do not give them trust and competitions to host that would ease the cost of building these infrastructures?” posed WKaebori.

The East Africa Pamoja Bid won the hosting rights for the 2027 tournament after defeating one from Botswana in September 2023.