Kenya Announces Stadium Closures for AFCON 2027 Renovations Amid Pressure to Meet Morocco Standards

Local matches are in jeopardy after Sports Kenya announced the imminent closure of the country's main stadiums for renovations.

This means that the clubs will need to secure alternative venues for their league fixtures as both Nyayo National Stadium and Kasarani Stadium are set to undergo upgrades in preparation for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.

Sports Kenya Director General Gabriel Komora confirmed that the facilities will be unavailable starting next month.

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"We are commencing renovations at both Nyayo and Kasarani to make them ready for the Africa Cup of Nations, and therefore, they will not be available for use from February," he stated as quoted by Mozzart Sport.

Komora added that discussions are underway with the contractor and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to find ways to minimise the impact on the domestic league and other sporting events.

"We want to see how best to minimise the disruption so that the clubs are not affected in a big way," he explained.

Having recently returned from the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco, Komora expressed confidence that Kenya's renovated facilities will meet international standards.

"Morocco put up an incredible tournament, and we had a chance to learn from them," he said. "We will do everything possible to match what we saw there."

Meanwhile, the construction of the 60,000-seater Talanta Sports City Stadium, recently proposed to be renamed the Raila Odinga International Stadium, has reached a major milestone with over 80 per cent of the work now complete.

During a government inspection on January 23, 2026, officials confirmed that the massive concrete superstructures and exterior shield motifs are fully in place.

The project is currently in its final phase, with contractors focusing on the installation of the high-tech ETFE canopy roof and the "GrassMaster" hybrid pitch.

Supporting infrastructure, including a dedicated railway station and expanded road networks, is also being fast-tracked to ensure the stadium is fully accessible for international fans.

Underscoring the government's confidence, Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi stated, “This is proof that we are on course to deliver this project; the government is assuring Kenyans that AFCON will be held and we have the facilities to execute that tournament.”