Caf boss Motsepe calls for unity in Kenyan football scene
Caf president Patrice Motsepe (centre) addresses the media at Talanta Stadium in Nairobi on September 18, 2026. He is flanked by Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya (left) and acting Caf secretary general Samson Adamu.
What you need to know:
- McDonald Mariga and Hussein Mohamed have differed over several issues concerning the management of Kenyan football.
- Patrice Motsepe toured the Raila Odinga Stadium in Nairobi, which is among the venues earmarked to host Afcon matches.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe on Friday called for unity in Kenyan football, saying the country is on the right path in its preparations to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
Motsepe also questioned the whereabouts of FKF Vice-President McDonald Mariga. Mariga and seven members of FKF’s National Executive Committee have questioned the leadership of FKF president Hussein Mohamed.
“You say there is division between the president and himself. Where is the vice-president? For a long time, I thought the federation’s secretary was the vice-president,” Motsepe said on Friday.
“We have never needed unity in Kenyan football like we need it now. I need the Kenya national team to succeed and do well, and this is the same message I give to every country and its leaders. The issues that cause division, we will deal with them in 2027 when Afcon is over,” the CAF chief added.
Mariga and Mohamed have differed over several issues concerning the management of Kenyan football, including the federation’s budget and the start of the new FKF Premier League season.
Motsepe was in Kenya after visiting Tanzania on Thursday as part of his inspection of preparations for the continental tournament, which Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will jointly host.
He toured the Raila Odinga Stadium in Nairobi, which is about 90 per cent complete and is among the venues earmarked to host Afcon matches. He also inspected the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, which is undergoing major renovations ahead of the tournament, scheduled to kick off in June next year.
The CAF president said he was pleased with the Pamoja Afcon bid, saying it brought the East African region together while creating opportunities for business and economic growth across the three countries.
Motsepe, who was accompanied by Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, Hussein Mohamed, Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi and Local Organising Committee chairman Nicholas Musonye, later paid a courtesy call on President William Ruto.
Caf President Patrice Motsepe with Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya and FKF President Hussein Mohamed during an inspection tour of Talanta Stadium in Nairobi on September 18, 2026.
He said Afcon 2027 should showcase the cultures of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda while providing fans with a memorable experience and creating opportunities for the development of football talent in the region.
Motsepe said he will return to Kenya in January for another inspection visit and expressed optimism that the country would have made significant progress by then.
Mvurya said Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania had agreed to introduce a single-entry visa for the tournament, with the remaining step being to operationalise the arrangement.
“It is an issue we are working on and it will be realised by ensuring there will be free movement,” Mvurya said.
He added that a dedicated committee was working on logistics and security to ensure the tournament runs smoothly.
During his visit to Tanzania on Thursday, Motsepe said Afcon 2027 would not be moved to another region, but urged the three host nations to step up their preparations.
“I’m confident and it is based on reality. I have been receiving reports on preparations. That is why I had to come personally to see and, indeed, there are areas we have to improve, areas where there are deficiencies and areas we are falling behind. I’m satisfied after the discussions we have had,” he said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.
