Chan Intrigues: Second chance for Kenya and East Africa

Caf president Patrice Motsepe (centre) talks to immediate former Sports CS Kipchumba Murkomen (right) when he inspected Kasarani Stadium on December 20, 2024. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Though the signings were already on the wall, the postponement of the delayed 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan) from February to August 2025 could be a blessing in disguise to the three hosting East African nations-Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

While some football stakeholders seemed shocked after the Confederation of African Football (Caf) took the bull by the horns and rescheduled the tournament that was supposed to start on February 1, to many it was bound to happen.

Reason being, the trio of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania were literally way behind schedule in terms of preparedness. From stadiums to training facilities, hotels, hospitals and other amenities, the region was not just ready to stage a 'successful' event. And the decision by the continental to put it off just 18 days before it kicked off was not only for the best interest of the region, but also the image of African football.

There was joy and celebration when Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania were awarded the rights to co-host the 2024 Chan in December 2023 to act as a dry run for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). By then, unlike Tanzania, Kenya did not have any Caf-approved facilities. Uganda's Mandela National Stadium was cleared this year.

But instead of putting all hands on the deck to ensure their facilities are ready for the tournament, the concerned authorities casually-lazed around buying time with their endless renovations. They appear to have turned those facilities into cash cows at the expense of athletes and the entire region.

And with less than a month to the tournament, it appeared to have been the same old situation for the region lacking standardised facilities.

However, after a recent inspection by Caf's Technical and Infrastructure experts, the continental body had no option but to reschedule the tournament. The experts, who recently toured the region, advised the continental body to give the three nations more time to uplift their facilities to the required standards before hosting the event. This will be the first time for three nations to jointly host the tournament involving local-based players.

"Good progress has been made in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda with the construction and upgrading of stadiums, training fields, hotels, hospitals and other infrastructure and facilities for the hosting of a successful African Nations Championship (Chan) Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda 2024," Caf said in a statement on the eve of the draw at KICC, Nairobi.

A worker putting final touches at Nyayo Stadium. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Self-inflicted unpreparedness

From all the unfolding and numerous visits made to Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania by the Patrice Motsepe-led team, the Cairo-based body really wanted the region to host the event next month, but the self-inflicted unpreparedness could not allow it to happen.

And to avoid a repeat of what happened to Kenya in 1996 and 2018 when the country lost the hosting rights to South Africa and Morocco respectively due to a lack of standardised facilities, this time round the continental body was lenient enough with the region.

The irony of it all is that while Kenya is known globally for its sporting prowess, there are still no proper stadiums for athletes to train or even stage international events. The culture of government officials making endless and fruitless visits to the venues undergoing renovations should stop completely. The region has been given a second chance and must make good use of it amidst a congested Caf calendar.

However, the biggest question is, will the region, and Kenya to be specific, take this noble gesture with both hands and get their act together? Tales of contractors exiting the facilities and making it look like an emergency a month or so before the tournament should not be entertained at all. The government, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and Local Organising Committee (LOC) should now walk the talk and save the country from further embarrassment.

Even though there is some huge progress at Karasani Stadium which has been shut down for renovations since December 2023 it was nowhere ready for the tournament. For Nyayo Stadium there was some glimmer of hope as it had been approved by Caf despite opening doors once in a while for a few sporting events as they continue upgrading it. But with the new dates, the concerned authorities must ensure the two historic venues are completed in time.

While Uganda Cranes and Taifa Stars have already participated in the Chan tournament, this will be the first time for Harambee Stars in the finals of the competition whose draw was conducted in Nairobi last night.

But with the postponement, the region can now expect to have all 19 teams in the tournament in August. Libya and Tunisia had withdrawn from the initial showpiece.