KEFOFA Ready To Work With Government To Make AFCON 2027 Showpiece A Success

_{Kenya Football Fans Federation (Kefofa) President Francis Liboyi (right) and Chief Executive Officer Shem Okottah (white shirt) with other members during a stakeholders meeting in Nairobi on Friday January 19, 2024. PHOTO/ JONAH ONYANGO}

NAIROBI, Kenya- The ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast has had very thrilling matches that have left fans and viewers on the edge of their seats.

However, some exciting games have had very poor attendance by spectators which has not augured well with other football stakeholders from across the continent.

One of the greatly concerned parties is the Kenya Football Fans Federation (Kefofa), as Kenya is poised to host the next AFCON showpiece in 2027.

_{Kenya Football Fans Federation (Kefofa) President Francis Liboyi (right) and Chief Executive Officer Shem Okottah (middle) during a stakeholders meeting in Nairobi on Friday January 19, 2024. PHOTO/ JONAH ONYANGO}

It is on this note that the national football fans body has now come out to urge the Government and the Sports Ministry to explore ways in which they can all work together to return supporters back to the stadium to avert a similar crisis when Kenya will be staging the continental football extravaganza.

“Football is the pride of Africa and this should be a wakeup call to all of us. As Kefofa, we have the capacity to advise and inform the State and the Ministry of Sports on fans’ insights.

“We are well versed with what’s happening out there, we understand the intrigues and challenges that spectators go through. We can recommend or work hand in hand with the Government to have a successful tournament in 2027,” Kefofa Chief Executive Officer Shem Okottah told Standard Sports.

_{Kenya Football Fans Federation (Kefofa) President Francis Liboyi (right) and Chief Executive Officer Shem Okottah during a stakeholders meeting in Nairobi on Friday January 19, 2024. PHOTO/ JONAH ONYANGO}

Kefofa President Francis Liboyi says the fans body is very much ready to help spice up AFCON 2027 as they can’t imagine a near empty Kasarani Stadium when Senegal is playing other African giants like Morocco, Cameroun, Nigeria or Ghana.

“As a national football fans body, we were so happy when Kenya got the nod to host AFCON 2027. I’m urging the Government to bring on board Kefofa to be part and parcel of the preparations.

“The Government needs a lot of involvement by the fans base in order for the seats in the stadiums to be filled during the games,” Liboyi underlined.

Liboyi is also advocating for the formation of a national football fans band ahead of the 2027 showdown. So far, he is much impressed with Senegal, hosts Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Guinea and Ghana who have marvelous, lively, and colourful bands at the ongoing tournament in West Africa.

“With great support from the Government, we too can have such a band with traditional dancers whose mandate will be to spice up games and make the stadiums electric during the AFCON matches,” he stated.

Liboyi added that collaboration with Kefofa will help to create awareness of the tournament and market the event.

In 2019, Kefofa took over 100 fans to the AFCON spectacle that was staged in Egypt and the trip was largely supported by the private sector.

The body has lauded KCB Bank, National Bank of Kenya and insurance firm Old Mutual for their effort to ferry 25 fans to the ongoing AFCON in Ivory Coast.

Apart from the games, the spectators will also visit other West Africa historic and cultural sites during their fully paid six-day trip.

At the same time, Kefofa has urged Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to offer a level playing ground to all candidates ahead of the FKF elections slated for later in the year.

The body has also sent a condolence message to the family of late Gor Mahia FC legend Caesar Handa who was also a staunch member of Kefofa. Handa was also a sports columnist at the Standard Group PLC.