Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe is set to visit Kenya this Friday as part of a two-day East African tour to evaluate the region’s readiness for the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN), slated for February 1–28, 2025.
Motsepe’s tour begins Thursday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, before moving to Nairobi Friday morning, concluding in Kampala, Uganda. The tour is designed to engage key stakeholders involved in hosting the tournament.
“During his visit, Dr. Motsepe will meet government officials, football leadership, and local organizing committees from the three countries. The schedule includes inspections of stadiums and training sites currently undergoing renovations for the tournament,” CAF announced.
Kenya’s Race Against Time
Kenya faces a tight deadline to complete renovations at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, and Nyayo Stadium by CAF’s December 31 cut-off. The Ministry of Sports initially aimed to complete Kasarani’s upgrades by November but has faced delays.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen unveiled a 31-member Local Organizing Committee (LOC), led by former CECAFA Secretary General Nicholas Musonye, to oversee the preparations.
“Time is of the essence, and we expect the LOC to work seamlessly to deliver results,” Murkomen said. “I assure Kenyans we will be ready to host CHAN 2025 and AFCON 2027 as planned.”
A First for East Africa
This year’s CHAN will be historic, marking the first time the tournament is co-hosted by three nations: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Reserved for players competing in domestic leagues, CHAN offers an opportunity to showcase the region’s ability to host AFCON 2027.
Motsepe’s visit comes after a CAF delegation’s November inspection of stadiums, training grounds, hotels, and other facilities. For Kenya, the spotlight is on Kasarani and Nyayo Stadium, which are critical to CHAN 2025 preparations.
With CAF’s deadlines looming, Motsepe’s visit could be the catalyst for East Africa’s successful bid to host continental football’s biggest events.
