Table of Contents
- Kenya hosting CHAN (African Nations Championship) remains on course
- Football Kenya Federation (FKF) chief Hussein Mohammed said this remains unchanged
- He said the federation is working tirelessly to ensure that renovation works at Nyayo National Stadium and Moi Sports International Centre, Kasarani are completed
Kenya hosting CHAN (African Nations Championship) remains on course, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) chief Hussein Mohammed maintained.
The FKF boss on Saturday expressed faith that Kenya will be ready to host CHAN in August despite doubts.
He was speaking at the ninth edition of the FKF Congress in Nairobi.
He said the federation is working tirelessly to ensure that renovation works at Nyayo National Stadium and Moi Sports International Centre, Kasarani are completed on time.
The stadia are expected to host the continental football tournament this year and also host the 2027 AFCON.
CHAN 2025 will start on August 2 with Kenya battling for victory in Group A together with Morocco, Angola, DR Congo and Zambia.
Kenya Hosting CHAN
Mohammed spoke following a wave of fear over the country’s unpreparedness in hosting but AFCON and CHAN.
Last week, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) dispatched a team of assessors as a follow-up to Kenya hosting CHAN and AFCON.
The team, in its findings, said that the Kasarani Stadium and Nyayo Stadium were of poor quality.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Hussein Mohammed(left) at the 9th FKF Congress in Nairobi. Photo/Hussein Mohammed
This team of inspectors, led by CAF’s Vice President Pierre Alain Mounguengui, cast a shadow of doubt on Kenya’s readiness to host these tournaments.
However, FKF said there is no cause for alarm since ‘things are moving in the right direction’ despite the delays experienced in renovation works.
Ministry of Sports Responds
Mohammed read from the same script as Kenya’s Ministry of Sports regarding Kenya hosting CHAN later this year.
Salim Mvurya, the Cabinet Secretary for Sports, dispelled the report given on Kasarani and Nyayo stadiums by Mounguengui’s team.
Mvurya said that CAF erred in issuing such a report while everything was being implemented to the letter to match CAF standards.
Kenya’s Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya with a delegation of Confederation of African Football (CAF) at his office in Nairobi. Photo/Salim Mvurya
He also noted that the inspectors were welcome to Kenya to inspect the stadium renovations as outlined in CAF protocols.
“We had a meeting on Friday with the CAF officials because it is standard procedure for CAF to conduct periodic inspections up until the final day in July. In our discussions. We affirmed Kenya’s full readiness to host CHAN,” Mvurya said in a statement.
He further noted that the government has invested Ksh1.6 billion in the renovations to match all standards required by CAF.
“The ongoing assessments by CAF are routine and essential to ensure all host nations align with tournament standards we have invested heavily in infrastructure upgrades, including at Kasarani and Nyayo stadiums, and have already paid the hosting fee amounting to KES 1.6 billion,” he further said.
CAF also evaluated the state of security at the venue and available accommodation.
Recovering FKF
Meanwhile, Mohammed shared how his administration is working towards making the federation better, with Kenya hosting CHAN.
He said the stadia renovations have pressured FKF since they took over office in December 2024 full of debts.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed is leading major changes to make football in Kenya more attractive. Photo/Capital News
Mohammed shared that former FKF boss Nick Mwendwa ran the federation into a debt pit by failing to pay service providers.
Among those owed are Engine Firat, former Harambee Stars coach owed Ksh80 million. Firat cut ties with Stars in December 2024 saying he couldn’t stand not being paid any longer.
The FKF boss assured Kenyans that he is working on making the federation stand on its feet and pay all its debts.
In addition, he promised to remain transparent and embrace financial discipline for football to flourish under his leadership.
