Former Harambee Stars defender explains why AFCON 2027 will transform Kenyan football
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 05.07.26. | 13:41
Kenya will co host the continental showpiece alongside Uganda and Tanzania, with Olum describing the tournament as a defining moment not only for the three host nations but for East African football as a whole
Former Harambee Stars defender Lawrence Olum believes the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will leave a lasting legacy on Kenyan football
He says the tournament will inspire a new generation of players while transforming the region's football infrastructure.
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Kenya will co-host the continental showpiece alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
Olum describes the tournament as a defining moment not only for the three host nations but for East African football as a whole.
The former Harambee Stars man, who represented Kenya between 2014 and 2015, believes local fans and young players will benefit immensely from watching some of Africa's biggest stars compete on home soil.
"When those players come here, young footballers will finally see what world-class football really looks like," Olum said in an interview with Eastleigh Voice.
"That kind of exposure changes people because they begin believing they can reach those levels too."
Olum expects the tournament to attract leading African stars such as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Achraf Hakimi, giving aspiring footballers a rare opportunity to witness elite talent up close.
He, however, believes the biggest legacy of the tournament should be the improvement of football infrastructure across the region.
"When you have the chance to play in a stadium holding sixty thousand people, it changes your ambitions," he said.
"Many footballers spend their entire lives playing before a few hundred spectators. Experiencing football on that scale motivates you to dream bigger."
Since retiring from professional football, Olum has remained actively involved in the game.
He currently coaches Metro Alliance in the United States while also leading initiatives aimed at creating opportunities for Kenyan players abroad.
Among the projects he oversees is a programme that supports girls of Kenyan heritage in the United States to pursue football while strengthening their connection with Kenya.
"We're trying to build a bridge between Kenya and the United States," he said.
"There are so many second-generation Kenyan children abroad who want to represent Kenya. We want them to feel connected to their roots while also creating opportunities for players back home."