During a press conference hosted by Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe, the veteran journalist launched a scathing attack on the three nations, casting doubt on their ability to meet the required tournament standards.
“The next one (AFCON) is heading to three East African countries, where I already have been. No roads within the countries. Some of my colleagues from East Africa told me from one country to another it will take you two days to drive."
He added: “Then my biggest worry, and many are worried, are we going to lower the standards by going to East Africa, what is the solution? Is there any possibility that it will be taken away from those countries.”
These comments stirred debate across the East African region, with the CAF supremo, however, maintaining that the 2027 edition will be hosted in East Africa.
“I have a responsibility to promote African football… I believe that AFCON 2027 will be successful for Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and we will not deprive them of the opportunity to host (the competition),” said Motsepe while responding to Gueye’s question.
‘The three are not 100% ready’
Before the final of the 2025 AFCON between Morocco and Senegal in Rabat, Flashscore caught up with Gueye, who offered his reasons on why he thinks the East African nations are not ready in an exclusive interview.
“I don’t know what Kenyans are hungry for, because remember in the past, in 1960, when South Africa hosted the AFCON, that AFCON was given to Kenya, but they were not ready, even recently how many times CHAN was postponed, because they were not ready,” Gaye told Flashscore.
“We are currently in Morocco, and I have seen development in Morocco. Morocco have put the bar very high, in terms of infrastructure, top-class stadiums, top-class highways taking you throughout the country, not only in one place, but throughout the country.
“They have trains taking you everywhere in the country, speed trains, now when you wish the same for sub–Saharan Africa, I am an African, Kenyans can be very upset, but I feel being a Kenyan too, I am a Ugandan too, I am a Tanzanian too.
“It doesn’t belong to them, because they live in that small part. We are all Africans, and we must aim for the best. It is in that contest that I say this, because three countries are hosting.”
He added: “Please tell me, are there highways linking the three countries? There is no highway linking the three countries, those are my issues for them to wake up and build those types of infrastructures.
“If you want to host to the level of Morocco, you have to be ready, because Morocco set the bar very high. This AFCON here was supposed to be in Guinea.
"Guinea failed to be ready, it was brought to Morocco. In that contest, I say if the three countries are not ready, obviously CAF will have to think twice and decide.
“CAF will not compromise things that are not up to standards, that I know, that is the reason why I asked the question during the press conference.”
‘We must not hide from it’
Asked whether he has been to Kenya or East Africa before to make judgement on the country’s infrastructure, Gaye responded: “I have been there (Kenya), I drove throughout the country, I have seen the quality of the roads.
“I have seen the kind of traffic jam we can have there, that can make you miss your match, or watch your match on your phone. Those are realities. We must not hide from it, and that is why I mentioned it, I have touched the reality of those countries.”
Gaye concluded when asked whether he was backing East Africa to host the 2027 AFCON. He said: “I am not 100% because from what I know, from what I have from my colleagues, these three countries are not 100% ready.
“That is why even the CAF President, when I asked the question, said on Monday, a delegation of inspection is visiting the three nations to inspect the readiness of those countries. That is the fact. Let them pull up their socks, and make Africa very proud.”
The 2027 edition 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.
The three hosting nations will provide three stadiums each for a total of nine. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda each initially proposed two cities for the tournament.
However, the tournament will likely be hosted in 10 cities overall. The cities are: Nairobi, Eldoret and Kakamega in Kenya, as well as Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Dodoma and Zanzibar in Tanzania and also in Kampala, Lira and Hoima in Uganda.
