In Summary:
- Kenya’s Harambee Stars will kick off their CHAN 2025 campaign against DR Congo on August 3 at Kasarani Stadium.
- Kenya is in a challenging Group A with Angola, DR Congo, and Morocco, while co-hosts Uganda and Tanzania also know their opponents.
- Despite the tournament being just over a month away, significant concerns remain about the readiness of Nyayo Stadium and required training grounds in Kenya.
Kenya is set to begin its 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) journey on August 3, facing DR Congo at Kasarani Stadium, as announced by CAF. This tournament, which features only locally-based players, is being co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. While excitement is building for the Harambee Stars’ tough group stage matches against Angola, DR Congo, and Morocco, there are growing worries about Kenya’s preparedness. Key venues like Nyayo Stadium and several training grounds are reportedly not yet ready, raising questions about the country’s ability to fully meet its hosting duties with the event just weeks away.
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Kenya Kicks Off CHAN Against DR Congo
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released the official schedule for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), confirming that co-hosts Kenya will begin their tournament quest against DR Congo on August 3 at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
The tournament, exclusively for locally based players, is set to run from August 2 to August 30 across venues in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
While excitement builds for the event, concerns are mounting over Kenya’s readiness, particularly the state of Nyayo Stadium and the delivery of FIFA-standard training grounds, with just over a month until kick-off.
Harambee Stars Face Tough Group A Challenge
Kenya, one of the three host nations, has been drawn into a competitive Group A alongside continental heavyweights Angola, DR Congo, and Morocco.
The Harambee Stars, under the guidance of head coach Benni McCarthy, will play all their group matches at Kasarani Stadium.
After their opener against DR Congo on August 3, they will face Angola four days later on August 7, followed by a clash with Morocco on August 10.
While Kasarani is confirmed for Kenya’s matches and the tournament final, other Group A games will be shared between Kasarani and Nyayo Stadium.
Regional co-hosts Uganda and Tanzania are also preparing for their campaigns. Uganda, in Group C and based in Kampala’s Mandela National Stadium, will face Algeria, Guinea, and Niger, starting against Algeria on August 3.
Tanzania, hosting Group B at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, will take on Burkina Faso, Madagascar, and Mauritania, with their opening match against Burkina Faso on August 2.
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Hosting Readiness Under Scrutiny
Despite the excitement of co-hosting the prestigious CHAN tournament, significant concerns remain regarding Kenya’s preparedness.
Reports indicate that Nyayo Stadium appears far from ready to meet the required standards, raising alarms among football stakeholders and fans.
Furthermore, Kenya is obligated to provide six FIFA-standard training grounds, but information on their completion timelines is scarce.
With the tournament less than six weeks away, the lack of visible progress on these crucial facilities has fueled fears that Kenya might struggle to fulfill its hosting commitments.
While the government, through Sports CS Salim Mvurya, has affirmed Kenya’s readiness and stated that significant investments have been made, including a KES 1.6 billion hosting fee, the visible state of some facilities suggests a race against time.
The success of the tournament, not just for Kenya’s performance but also for its reputation as a capable host, hinges on urgent action to address these infrastructure gaps.
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