Taking notes in Rabat: PAMOJA 2027 hosts gain first-hand AFCON experience in Morocco

A PAMOJA 2027 delegation drawn from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda is currently in Morocco on a high-level observer mission during the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, as preparations gather pace for East Africa’s turn to host the continent’s biggest football showpiece.

The three nations, who will jointly stage AFCON 2027, are using the ongoing tournament as a live learning laboratory, engaging in a structured knowledge-exchange programme coordinated by CAF and the Moroccan Local Organising Committee.

The observer mission officially got underway on Friday, January 9, with a technical tour of the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, before the delegation witnessed matchday operations during the quarter-final clash between Morocco and Cameroon.

The experience provided first-hand insight into stadium management, security coordination, competition logistics, media movement and spectator services.

Beyond matchday operations, the delegation has toured key competition venues in Rabat, including Al Medina Stadium and the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Hassan, to better understand venue readiness, overlay planning and operational flow.

Media and broadcast operations were also in focus, with a visit to the Main Media Centre (MMC) in Rabat, which hosts more than 1,000 accredited journalists. The tour highlighted the scale of coordination required to deliver seamless international media coverage, press conferences and broadcast services at a major CAF tournament.

Security and fan engagement formed another critical pillar of the programme. The delegation paid a strategic visit to the African Police Cooperation Centre, gaining insight into inter-agency security collaboration, and later toured official AFCON Fan Zones, now a central feature of CAF competitions aimed at enhancing the fan experience beyond the stadiums.

CAF General Secretary Véron Mosengo-Omba said the observer programme is designed to future-proof the delivery of Africa’s flagship football event.

“This Observer Programme reflects CAF’s commitment to long-term excellence in tournament delivery. By strategically exposing future host nations to operations of our flagship event, we are ensuring consistency in hosting world-class African football events. The delegation’s presence in Morocco is a vital step in transferring knowledge, strengthening capacity and preparing Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to successfully host a world-class CAF Africa Cup of Nations in 2027,” said CAF General Secretary, Veron Mosengo-Omba.

The mission underscores CAF’s forward-looking strategy on institutional learning, continuity and capacity building, as PAMOJA 2027 takes shape with East Africa positioning itself to deliver a historic, world-class Africa Cup of Nations.