FIFA President Gianni Infantino will be in Nairobi on Saturday to attend the grand finale of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), organizers have confirmed.

Nicholas Musonye, chairman of Kenya’s Local Organizing Committee, revealed on Wednesday that the world football governing body boss will serve as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the tournament, which exclusively features players plying their trade in domestic leagues across Africa.

The final will see two-time champions Morocco square off against surprise package Madagascar at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

The match will bring down the curtain on a competition that began on August 2 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and has captivated football lovers across the continent.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe, alongside all 54 presidents of African national football associations, is also expected to grace the occasion.

Kenya’s President William Ruto and other top government dignitaries will be in attendance as East Africa hosts its biggest continental football event in recent years.

The 2024 CHAN, initially postponed from January to August, has been viewed as a key preparatory step for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda will co-host.

Motsepe, who championed the idea of staging the first-ever three-nation AFCON, has hailed the CHAN as a milestone in proving the region’s readiness.

Despite initial concerns about infrastructure and organization, the tournament has been widely praised, drawing record crowds and showcasing the untapped talent in African domestic leagues.

With global football leadership in Nairobi, the final promises to be a landmark moment for East African football.