Kenyan President William Ruto delivers a speech during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Talanta Sports City at Jamhuri Grounds in Nairobi, Kenya, on March 1, 2024. [Photo by Wu Xiaohui/chinadaily.com.cn]
 

Construction of a new sports stadium to be used as the main venue for the opening and closing ceremony of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations started on Friday in Kenya's capital Nairobi.

Once completed by the end of next year, the Talanta Sports City stadium, with a capacity of 60,000 seats, will be able to host world-class international sports competitions and redefine the country's sporting profile, William Ruto, Kenyan president, said at the groundbreaking ceremony of the stadium on Friday morning.

The stadium, occupying an area of about 46 hectares, will be constructed by Chinese company China Road and Bridge Corporation over a two-year period. It will be a FIFA-standard professional soccer stadium, which can also host rugby matches.

Kenyan President William Ruto talks with Kenyan athletes and coaches during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Talanta Sports City at Jamhuri Grounds in Nairobi, Kenya, on March 1, 2024. [Photo by Wu Xiaohui/chinadaily.com.cn]
 

"AFCON 2027 is just the beginning of our nation's endeavor to become a regional, continental, and global center for sports development and competition," Ruto said.

"To get there, we are committed to invest effectively and strategically to upgrade various sports facilities, including the comprehensive renovation of Kasarani stadium, as well as the construction of new modern premises and amenities."

Kenya will host the AFCON 2027 together with their East African neighbors, Uganda and Tanzania.

Kenyan President William Ruto plants a tree during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Talanta Sports City at Jamhuri Grounds in Nairobi, Kenya, on March 1, 2024. [Photo by Wu Xiaohui/chinadaily.com.cn]

The president was accompanied by Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, and Football Kenya Federation's President Nick Mwendwa.

Ruto said military discipline will be adopted for the construction of the stadium to ensure its high standard, and that he himself will inspect the construction until it is completed.

Namwamba did not reveal the total cost of the facility, but stressed that its cost will be lower than other stadiums that hosted recent AFCONs in other African countries.

The construction of the Talanta Sports City was approved by the cabinet late last year, as part of the country's commitment to host AFCON 2027.

Construction workers from the China Road and Bridge Corporation attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Talanta Sports City at Jamhuri Grounds in Nairobi, Kenya, on March 1, 2024. [Photo by Wu Xiaohui/chinadaily.com.cn]