By Muhammad Dhakaba Menya……….
Uganda beat the May 23 deadline – handing over the East African Afcon Pamoja 2027 bidding paperwork to the Confederation of African Football – Caf at a function held in Cairo-Egypt.
Sports State Minister, Peter Ogwang led the Ugandan delegation comprising Fufa President Moses Magogo, Justus Mugisha (first vice), Ronnie Kalema (Excom Member) as well as Deputy CEO Decolas Kiiza.
Caf General Secretary, Veron Mosengo-Omba received the Ugandan delegation’s bid at the continental’s soccer governing body Headquarters in Cairo.
The race for the 2027 Afcon bid is on high for East Africa as Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania are attempting to front for joint hosting rights for the biggest football tournament on the continent, which will be the first time in the history of the competition.
The fire to host the tournament was sparked in the 2019 series, when for the first time ever, four East African nations including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi qualified separately for the biannual tournament.
But for the Pamoja Bid to succeed the East African nations will have to overcome competition from Botswana, Egypt and Algeria.
Egypt hosted Afcon as recently as 2019; while Algeria hosted the African Nations Championship – Chan – the tournament for locally-based players earlier this year – a clear indication that the two have the required infrastructure for such a competition. However, it is unclear how much investment will be needed to allow either Botswana’s or the Pamoja Bid to succeed.
The Cairo bid presentation came hours after the same Fufa delegation had on Monday briefed President Yoweri Museveni at State House, Entebbe details regarding the bid at a function Education and Sports Minister, Janet Kataha attended.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa had led the delegation to State House – including all the faces that later travelled to Cairo as other Fufa officials and selected members of the National Council of Sports – NCS.
“I have received Uganda’s Afcon 2027 joint bid with Kenya and Tanzania (EAC Pamoja bid). Sports is good for health, entertainment and now, more so business,” noted President Museveni.
“Therefore, for East Africa to come together to invite the African Cup here is very good. It will promote our countries and tourism will also increase,” the President added.
