Kampala, Uganda – Confederation of African Football has raised serious concerns over Uganda’s preparedness to host matches for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), warning that key stadiums remain below required standards and urgent action is needed.
According to the latest CAF inspection report, none of the proposed competition stadiums in Uganda currently meets the stringent CAF Category 4 requirements, placing the country’s readiness under scrutiny with just over a year to the tournament.
The report highlights that Hoima City Stadium, though structurally complete, suffers from major operational deficiencies. Inspectors cited poor segregation of spectators, non-compliant dressing rooms for players and referees, substandard media facilities, and design flaws affecting visibility within the stadium. CAF emphasized that significant operational reconfiguration is required before the venue can be approved.
Similarly, Mandela National Stadium (Namboole) was found to have major compliance gaps. Proposed upgrades — including expansion works, roof replacement, and partial demolition of the West Stand — are expected to take at least 15 months, a timeline CAF says is incompatible with AFCON 2027 deadlines.
The report further noted that both Hoima and Namboole pitches fall below CAF standards, raising concerns about player safety and match quality. In a surprising development, CAF officials did not inspect Akii-Bua Stadium during the assessment, leaving its status unclear in the broader evaluation.
Beyond stadium infrastructure, CAF also pointed to gaps in supporting facilities. These include the need to confirm operational readiness of Hoima Airport for international arrivals, ensure sufficient five-star hotel accommodation for teams and officials, improve the Kampala–Hoima road corridor, and strengthen medical and emergency response systems.
CAF has now set August 2026 as the critical deadline for Uganda to address all shortcomings and demonstrate measurable progress. Failure to meet these benchmarks could jeopardize the country’s role in hosting AFCON 2027.
The findings put pressure on authorities to fast-track infrastructure development and align with international standards, as Uganda works alongside regional partners to deliver one of Africa’s biggest football tournaments.
