Kenya has been warned against further delaying preparations for the Africa Nations Championships (CHAN), barely two months to the start of the continental spectacle.
As the government battles against time to ensure all designated facilities are ready for the second most prestigious tournament in Africa after the Africa Cup of Nations, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) continues to send in officials to inspect progress and deliver the report.
During the latest assessment, CAF Secretary General Veron Mosengo sounded he alarm to Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, cautioning that failure for Kenya to execute CHAN effectively would put the country and Africa in general at risk.
According to Mosengo, a sub-standard tournament would effectively jeopardise stakeholders' and investors' confidence in Kenya and Africa in hosting continental events.
“Everyone is ready to come here,” Mosengo said. “But if we don't deliver CHAN properly, people will say, ‘Why should I waste my time in AFCON?’”
CAF has been closely monitoring Kenya's facilities, with a special focus on Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, Nyayo Stadium, and the two designated training grounds: Police Sacco Stadium and Ulinzi Sports Complex.
During the assessment, CS Mvurya reaffirmed that there was considerable progress, citing upgrades including the installation of a new canopy and seats at Kasarani. He, however, admitted that several critical infrastructures were lagging in preparations.
“For example, in Kasarani, you realise that we have done the canopy, we have fixed the seats, but we have other areas like VAR and other equipment that need to be fixed,” Mvurya said.
To fast-track the upgrades, Mvurya revealed the government had released Ksh400 million to the contractor to urgently finish the remaining phases and meet CAF's strict benchmarks for a flawless tournament.
Mosengo further emphasised the lofty standards expected by the 2024 CHAN stakeholders, urging the Kenyan government to leave no stone unturned in terms of fixing stadium facilities.
“When President Motsepe came, he put a very high standard, like it was seen in the AFCON in Ivory Coast. If someone forgets to fix the water in the toilet, I cannot allow the tournament to start. It may look like a small thing, and some may say, ‘It’s okay, we can fix it tomorrow,’ but for us, no," the CAF Secretary General added.
Another issue which has plagued Kenya in its preparation for the tournament has been playing surfaces, but Mosengo commended the country for the improvements made in recent months.
The 2024 CHAN has been postponed twice, with the tournament initially expected to take place in September 2024. It was pushed to February 2025, to allow for the host countries, including Tanzania and Uganda, more time to have their facilities better prepared for the tournament.
In February, the tournament was pushed back five months once again, with the host nations being given another opportunity to prepare adequately.
Besides Kenya, Uganda’s Minister of State for Sports, Peter Ogwang, and Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Culture, Arts, and Sports, Hamisi Mwinjuma, also confirmed that their countries are fully prepared and committed to hosting the event successfully.
