2027 AFCON: Victor Wanyama backs Kenya to shine

Former Kenya national team captain Victor Wanyama has tipped the national team to have a good 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which they will co-host alongside Uganda, and Tanzania.

This edition of the tournament will be the first to be hosted by three countries, and the first in five decades to be organised in the CECAFA region, since it was hosted by Ethiopia in 1976.

This event is part of the Africa Cup of Nations’ 70th anniversary. It will also be the last one to be held in odd-numbered years, as CAF announced in December 2025 that AFCON would become a quadrennial tournament from 2028 onwards.

The flag is passed over. 🤝

AFCON 2027 will be hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. 🇰🇪🇺🇬🇹🇿

pic.twitter.com/JW30KjTi91

— Dean Ammi (@AlgerianFooty) January 19, 2026

Kenya can beat any team on home soil

“We hosted CHAN, and nobody expected the local players to perform the way they did. That showed that with fans behind them at home, anything is possible,” the former Tottenham midfielder said as quoted by Mozzart Sports.

“I believe in the boys; they have quality, and with proper training and preparation, they can beat any team on home soil.”

He added: “With good preparation and the same spirit they showed during CHAN, coupled with the support they received then, we have the potential to be the best.

“We need to invest in infrastructure, give young players opportunities, focus on grassroots football, establish strong and well-structured youth leagues, and support academies. That is how we can develop many quality players.”

Kenya co-hosted the 2024 CHAN and reached the knockout stages on their first attempt before losing to Madagascar on penalties.

AFCON 2027 a landmark tournament

Beyond its regional importance, AFCON 2027 will also be the last edition held in an odd-numbered year. In December 2025, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced that the competition would switch to a quadrennial format from 2028 onwards, aligning it more closely with other major international tournaments. As such, the 2027 event is widely viewed as a symbolic turning point in the history of African football.

For Kenya, the tournament represents a rare opportunity to shine on the continent’s biggest stage while enjoying the advantage of home support. Wanyama believes that playing on familiar grounds, backed by passionate fans, could be a decisive factor.

“Kenya can beat any team on home soil”

Speaking to Mozzart Sports, the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder pointed to Kenya’s recent experience at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) as evidence that the national team can rise to the occasion when expectations are low.

“We hosted CHAN, and nobody expected the local players to perform the way they did,” Wanyama said. “That showed that with fans behind them at home, anything is possible.”

He added that the Harambee Stars possess the quality needed to challenge even Africa’s traditional heavyweights when playing in familiar surroundings.

“I believe in the boys; they have quality, and with proper training and preparation, they can beat any team on home soil,” Wanyama emphasized.

Lessons from CHAN 2024

Kenya co-hosted the 2024 CHAN tournament and made a strong impression by reaching the knockout stages on their first-ever appearance at the competition. The run eventually ended in a dramatic penalty shootout defeat to Madagascar, but the overall campaign was widely regarded as a success.

For Wanyama, that experience should serve as a blueprint ahead of AFCON 2027. He believes the same unity, hunger, and belief shown by the locally based players during CHAN can be replicated by the senior national team.

“With good preparation and the same spirit they showed during CHAN, coupled with the support they received then, we have the potential to be the best,” he said.

Call for long-term investment

While optimistic about Kenya’s chances, Wanyama stressed that success at AFCON 2027 will not come by chance. He called for sustained investment in football development, emphasizing the importance of infrastructure and youth systems.

“We need to invest in infrastructure, give young players opportunities, focus on grassroots football, establish strong and well-structured youth leagues, and support academies,” he noted. “That is how we can develop many quality players.”

His remarks echo long-standing calls within Kenyan football for reforms that go beyond short-term tournament preparation. Improved stadiums, training facilities, and talent pathways are seen as essential if the country is to compete consistently at continental level.

A unique opportunity for Kenya and the region

AFCON 2027 presents Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania with a unique platform to showcase not only their footballing talent but also their ability to host a major international event. For Kenya in particular, the tournament could be a catalyst for long-term growth, both on and off the pitch.

With a respected former captain like Victor Wanyama publicly backing the current generation, optimism is growing among supporters that the Harambee Stars can rise to the challenge. If preparation, planning, and investment align with home advantage, AFCON 2027 could mark one of the most memorable chapters in Kenyan football history.