Kenyans can now rest easy as far as the country’s hosting rights for the (CHAN 2024) is concerned following the payment of the hosting fee.
to host the tournament to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) by April 3 with the delay bringing in fears that the country could lose out on the tournament.
However, Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has allayed those fears by confirming that the hosting fee was paid to CAF after budgetary constraints had led to the delay as the country had prioritised infrastructure development such as stadiums.
PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the from Pulse Sports
Mohammed Bajaber has become a cult hero after his starring role for Harambee Stars in March and he has been told what he must do to remain in the plans of coach Benni McCarthy.
“The State Department for Sports has already made payments to CAF for CHAN hosting fee of 1.6Billion. We’re ready for AFCON & CHAN 2025,” Mvurya said via a post on X, before confirming the same to Parliament when he appeared at the National Assembly’s Committee on Sports and Culture, the State Department of Sports on Tuesday.
Mvurya provides positive CHAN stadia update
The CS then explained that the stadiums needed for the tournament, with the former getting a complete roof following the full installation of a canopy last month.
“I can confirm that our sports infrastructure construction are on course. We have unlocked the stalemates surrounding our stadiums and still doing so with haste. I personally have a weekly schedule to visit our stadias,” he added.
Kenya struggles to pay Sh1.6 billion CHAN 2024 hosting fee as budget constraints from stadium renovations delay government’s financial commitments.
Kenya was given a reprieve when CAF postponed the tournament from February to August 2024, to allow for the completion of infrastructure needed as the country was behind schedule in stadium renovations.
There is now optimism that Kenya will be ready by the time the tournament begins on August 2 with in a tough Group A that has Morocco, Zambia, DR Congo and Angola.