Just as he did when he visited Kenya on September 26 to assess the progress the country had made in preparing venues for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), Caf President Patrice Motsepe on Friday struck an optimistic tone that Kenya will be ready to co-host the delayed tournament with Uganda and Tanzania on his second visit to the country in as many months.
On Friday, Motsepe said he was impressed with Kenya’s preparations towards hosting the eighth edition of the biennial football tournament reserved for local-based players. The tournament is scheduled for February 1 to 28 next year.
“I leave Kenya with even more confidence and even more excitement that indeed there is huge progress (in Kenya’s preparations to co-host the 2024 CHAN with Uganda and Tanzania),” said Motsepe.
“Like in any huge undertaking of this nature, there were always challenges all over the world including the hosting of the Fifa World Cup. So the conclusion for me is the challenges we have had, huge progress has been made to deal with them and I am confident that the next time I will be here in Kenya will be for the CHAN,” he added.
Kenya selected the 60,000-seater Moi International Sports Center (MISC) Kasarani and the 30,000-seater Nyayo National Stadium as match venues for the tournament. The training venues are MISC Kasarani Annex, Ulinzi Sports Complex, and Police Sacco Stadium.
Motsepe’s sentiments come amid growing concern by football fans about the country’s ability to meet the December 31 deadline. Yesterday, Motsepe was accompanied by CAF Secretary General Veron Mosengo-Omba, CAF Fourth Vice President Seidou Mbombo, former Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen who has since been moved to the Internal Security docket, Football Kenya Federation President Huseein Mohamed and Vice President McDonald Mariga, and 2024 CHAN/2027 Afcon Head of Secretariat Mike Rabar. Nineteen teams, Kenya included, will compete in the tournament.
Last month, a CAF inspection team expressed serious doubts about Kenya’s ability to get MISC Kasarani ready for the tournament within deadline. Some of the areas of major concern included ongoing work on the canopy, fitting of seats, and installation of the sound system. At Nyayo National Stadium, the floodlights had yet to be installed.
On Friday, a spot-check by Nation Sport at Nyayo National Stadium confirmed that while the playing surface had been improved, the floodlights were still missing. Police Sacco Stadium and MISC Kasarani Annex require new changing rooms to get a clean bill of health as training venues.
There have been reports that Rwanda could replace Kenya in co-hosting the tournament with Uganda and Tanzania. Rwanda boasts a magnificent 45,508-seater Amahoro National Stadium. Tanzania have been hosting international matches at the 60,000-seater Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, while Uganda have been playing at the 42,000-seater Mandela National Stadium in Kampala. Just two weeks ago, the government appointed a multi-agency team to oversee Kenya’s preparations to co-host the 2024 Chan and 2027 Africa Cup of Nations tournament also with Uganda and Tanzania. Uganda and Tanzania established their respective Local Organising Committees (LOCs) for 2024 CHAN months ago. Motsepe said with the strong cooperation between the government and CAF experts who have set up camp in the country to assist with preparations for the tournament, Kenya will get stadiums ready for the February 1-28 tournament next year.
“I’m so proud of the cooperation and commitment that they (CAF experts) have received from the LOC, and also the minister of Sports and I’m proud of the good work that our new FKF president Hussein Mohammed is doing,” Motsepe observed.
Later, he paid a courtesy call on President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi.
Murkomen thanked the CAF president for not only putting pressure on the government for Kenya to be ready for Chan but also providing necessary support in ensuring that the refurbishment work is to the required standards.
In a related development, Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu will be used as a training venue for 2024 CHAN. It was not immediately clear whether teams will still use Moi international Sports Centre, Kasarani Annex for training.
“We have had the full support of the government of Kenya. Where goods would have been shipped by sea, we have decided that we ship them by air to make sure that everything is ready and I can assure you that we will deliver Chan on time,” said Murkomen, who has been transferred to the Ministry of Interior.
On his part, Mohammed exuded confidence that Kenya will be ready for Chan, promising that the three countries will host a remarkable tournament.
“We will be ready for this event and we are going to put up one of the best shows that the continent has seen. This will be a critical launch pad for us towards Afcon 2027 and we will make all of you proud,” he said.
