A day that provided entertaining football sounded better minutes after the full time whistle had blown as President Dr. William Ruto led a group of dignitaries in reemphasizing Kenya’s bid to hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.“Just as I had announced before, we want the Africa Cup of Nations to be held here in 2027,” William Ruto – who was accompanied by the Ministry Of Youth Affairs,The Arts & Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba and FKF President Nick Mwendwa said on Sunday after witnessing AFC Leopards break their seven year wait to finally beat Gor Mahia 2-1 at the Nyayo National Stadium.No doubt #MashemejiDerby today been a blast! Great attendance. Effervescent atmosphere. Exhilarating football. Let’s take our game to dizzying levels. TOGETHER as ONE. Thanks all you amazing fans, led by top fans H.E President @WilliamsRuto & PM Rt. Hon @RailaOdinga. #TalantaHela pic.twitter.com/BZMd8eBhb4— Hon Ababu-Namwamba, EGH🇰🇪 (@AbabuNamwamba) May 14, 2023 Goals from Victor Omune and Maxwell Otieno either side of Austin Odhiambo’s equalizer saw the 12 time FKF Premier League champions battle hard in a game that the Head of State could only describe as ‘the best game I have ever seen in a long time.’Joining both sets of players at the center circle, Ruto commended them for their display, promising to award each team with a token amounting to Ksh. 1 million set to be handed to the two captains.Belgium laced Ingwe end seven year wait for victory against Gor Mahia“I want to make it clear to all that we will change this game (football),” Ruto – off an action packed Saturday that saw him grace the fourth edition of the Kip Keino Classic at the Kasarani Stadium – said. “I have held discussions with Hon. Ababu Namwamba and we have all agreed that we will take Kenya’s status in sports and football back to where it was and should be.”Speaking on the plan to host 2027 AFCON, Ruto mentioned that Kenya would on Wednesday table their final proposing bid and made a call to the fans and players to play their role in making games and tournaments a success.##NAJAVA_MECA_7252346##“Once we succeed in bringing the games here, you (players) must ensure that we win,” the President remarked amid some cheers. “We have also spoken about how empty our stadiums have been. It is my plea to our fans to avoid causing any trouble during matches and uphold discipline.“We want to make stadiums a great place where everyone including mothers and kids can come to enjoy games.”Mashemeji Derby Player Ratings: Maxwell Otieno shines as Sylvester Owino suffers nightmare debutOn Thursday 27 Jan, the Confederation of African Football confirmed Kenya’s joint bid with Uganda and Tanzania to host the 2027 AFCON alongside three other candidates; Algeria, Botswana and Egypt.With the deadline for final submissions having been set on 23 May 2023, Kenya’s bid on Wednesday will open up the next level of checks that will involve CAF begin their inspection process before the Executive Committee meet, make a decision and announce the hosts for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027.
