With the battle lines drawn in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which kicks off in Ivory Coast tomorrow, it is time to take stock of what actually led to Kenya being condemned to the periphery of the biannual showcase.

Understood, it was not the fault of Harambee Stars, which has partaken of the tournament five times, to miss out as it was attributed to football turf wars which led to the country serving an indefinite ban by Fifa by the time the qualifying campaign was in motion.

Such is the sad epitaph that has bedeviled our game although the good news is that the sanctions have since been lifted which in essence gives the country the rights to co-host the 2027 edition with neighbouring countries of Uganda and Tanzania. Whilst it is still a shame that Tanzania, which is lower than Kenya in Fifa rankings, can grace the football jamboree in Ivory Coast and not Kenya, we ought to learn from the awful experience and correct the wrongs now that co-hosting the next edition is ours to lose.

But it is beyond question that the talking point is not Kenya’s omission in the showcase but rather how prepared the country is to join hands with Uganda and Tanzania after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) awarded the three countries the hosting rights for the 2027 edition.

It must also be acknowledged that the hosting not only marks a major milestone for the three countries, not least Kenya, but it will also cement the integration of the East African Community.  It is even heartier that the three nations will jointly host the event which implies that they will be spared the challenge of qualifying through the preliminary matches.

The ball now falls on the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to put its act together especially given that it is bound to form the core of the Local Organising Committee for the 2027 showpiece.

The government which is also tasked with availing at least two stadiums that meet Fifa standards, should also take this opportunity to do a benchmarking in Cote ‘Ivore on what it really takes to host the continental competition.

It was good news when national broadcaster left it late to secure broadcasting rights for the tournament. It could have been seriously disappointing for the local football enthusiasts. The Cote ‘Ivore showpiece should serve as a lesson for Kenya.