Kenya's bid to host the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2025 tournament alongside Uganda and Tanzania hangs in the balance according to reports, which government has however refuted.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) allegedly raised a red flag over the East African country's preparedness due to the standards of the main stadiums to host the continental fete.
According to reports, CAF assessors who completed their inspection tour in Kenya on Saturday, found the playing surfaces at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, Nyayo National Stadium, and selected training grounds to be below the required standards for continental competitions.
The inspection team arrived in Nairobi on Thursday after wrapping up similar assessments in Kampala, Uganda. Their findings paint a worrying picture for Kenya, just months before the tournament is set to kick off.
Led by CAF’s third vice president, Pierre Alain Mounguengui, the assessors noted that the pitches currently fail to meet CAF’s minimum requirements, raising serious concerns about the country's readiness to host the event.
The delegation visited Kasarani, and Kirigiti Stadium as part of their final assessments.
Reports indicated that Police Sacco Stadium, Ulinzi Sports Complex, Kasarani Annex and the Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu have surfaces that do not meet the required standards.
These venues had been earmarked as key locations for the CHAN tournament, but their current state has left CAF questioning Kenya’s preparedness.
However, the government has downplayed the alarm. In response, Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports, Salim Mvurya, has firmly rejected the claims, urging the public to disregard what he termed as "misinformation" in a statement shared on his social media accounts.
Speaking during the official handover of the Raila Odinga Stadium to the National Celebrations Steering Committee ahead of the Madaraka Day celebrations, Mvurya reaffirmed Kenya's full commitment to delivering a successful CHAN 2025 tournament.
" In our discussions, we affirmed Kenya’s full readiness to host CHAN,” said CS Mvurya. He emphasised that the inspection was part of CAF’s normal protocol and that the government remains committed to implementing any recommendations from the evaluation report.
He insisted that all preparations are progressing on schedule and that the assessments by CAF are routine procedures designed to ensure compliance with tournament standards.
With CHAN 2025 fast approaching, all eyes remain on Kenya's ability to host the continental fete, even as it lags behind its co-hosts Uganda and Tanzania in preparedness.
