BY KUNLE SOLAJA

It was an epoch-making decision as for the first time ever, the African premier football competition, the Africa Cup of Nations will be hosted by three countries – Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. This for the 2027 edition.

When the competition kicks off that year, It will be 51 years since AFCON was last hosted in East Africa. That was at Ethiopia in 1976.

Significantly too, it was the time that the the 2025 hosts, Morocco won the competition which was the first and the only one played throughout using the league format.

The East African bid upstaged the joint bid of Nigeria and Benin, which appeared dead on arrival, even before the votes.

Also beaten were those of Botswana, Egypt and Senegal.  Algeria were also a candidate but withdrew on Tuesday.

Kenya had previously been awarded the hosting in 1996 but were stripped because of poor preparation. South Africa got in as a replacement.

Kenya only recently had a long FIFA ban for government interference in the running of their football federation lifted.