Kenya legend Mariga sets target for Harambee Stars at 2027 AFCON

Former Kenya national team midfielder Macdonald Mariga has revealed a minimum target that Harambee Stars must achieve during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in East Africa.

The 36th edition will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from June 19 to July 18, and 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.

By virtue of being host nation, Kenya will be among the 24 teams that will fight it out for the coveted trophy, which is currently being held by Senegal after they defeated Morocco in the disputed final of the 2025 edition in Rabat.

Kenya target for 2027 AFCON revealed

According to Mariga, who won Champions League title with Inter Milan and is currently serving as the vice-chairman of Football Kenya Federation (FKF), should target quarters or semifinals of the tournament.

“We are building a great team, not just to participate but we want to reach maybe quarters or semifinals. Not to host a tournament and you are out at the group stages,” Mariga told TV 47.

“We are improving, doing better than past days. As a federation, we are trying to get better. We hosted CHAN, it was a great tournament and now we have this FIFA Series.

Mariga added: “Our target is to reach the semi-finals in the Africa Cup of Nations, and from there, we can plan how to reach the final.

“A semi-final place would stretch the competition to a level where everyone would be happy about it.”

Kenya has participated in the AFCON six times, making them one of the more experienced East African teams in the competition. Despite this, Kenya has never advanced past the group stages of a single AFCON.