Football
CAF boss Patrice Motsepe Gives Kenya's Preps for CHAN 2025 Seal of Approval
CAF President Patrice Motsepe has expressed confidence in Kenya's preparations for the 2025 CHAN tournament, praising the renovation progress at Kasarani Stadium. Motsepe also reaffirmed Kenya's readiness to co-host the 2027 AFCON alongside its neighbors, Uganda and Tanzania.
Image Credits: Thananuwat Srirasant - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Dr. Patrice Motsepe has allayed fears of Kenya losing the 2025 CHAN Championships hosting rights by giving the ongoing stadia renovation works a thumbs up.
There were fears that the CAF boss would frown at the pace which Kenya is taking to renovate either the Nyayo National Stadium or Kasarani for the championships set for next year.
Kenya, alongside Uganda and Tanzania secured the rights to jointly host the eighth edition of the tournament but Nairobi was viewed as the weakest link by virtue of not having a CAF-approved facility.
Both Uganda and Tanzania have at least two facilities that are good enough to stage continental inter-club tournaments as well as the AFCON and World Cup qualifiers.
Kenya on the other hand, has been hosting her AFCON and World Cup qualifiers in foreign countries due to the snail-pace witnessed in having either Nyayo or Kasarani ready.
Motsepe impressed with renovation works at Kasarani
In what will perhaps give Kenyans hope of finally watching the CHAN tournament on home soil, Motsepe revealed his satisfaction with the upgrading works at Kasarani Stadium and the deadlines set by the government.
Kenya was awarded the rights to host the tournament, which brings players from domestic leagues together, in 2017 but was stripped of it failing to renovate the earmarked facilities on time.
Motsepe, who inspected Kasarani last Sunday, expressed confidence that Kenya will hasten her steps, in having the stadium ready, and ultimately, the tournament will be the best in history.
Kenya had initially listed Nyayo as the preferred stadium to host the CHAN tournament, but the government announced Kasarani as the facility for the tournament.
I am very impressed with the commitment of the Government of Kenya and the progress I saw at Kasarani. The upgrading and renovation of the stadium is well on course.
Patrice Motsepe
Kenya on track for 2027 AFCON finals
Apart from the CHAN tournament, set for February next year, Kenya has the rights to stage the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside her neighbours.
It is in this regard, that Motsepe toured Nyayo and the Talanta Sports Centre which are earmarked for the biennial football tournament alongside Kasarani.
Motsepe, unreservedly, thanked President William Ruto and his government for putting in the resources for the 2027 AFCON finals and other football activities.
"The Talanta Stadium is a world-class one. I am proud of the ongoing construction. I am grateful to President Ruto for his commitment to Kenyan football and the resources invested in upgrading stadiums for CHAN and AFCON 2027," said Motsepe.
Motsepe frustrated with teams playing home matches away
Motsepe's extensive address to the press focused on sporting facilities and at some point, he could not hide his frustration with some countries hosting home matches away due to lack of approved stadiums.
Kenya was among the 17 African countries that staged her World Cup and Afcon qualifiers in foreign territory, something which does not sit well with Motsepe.
"Nothing frustrates me more than a country hosting home matches away," said the former Mamelodi Sundowns chairman.
The renowned businessman is expected back in Kenya in December for a final inspection exercise.
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