CAF General Secretary confirms Kenya is on track to co-host CHAN 2024

CAF General Secretary confirms Kenya is on track to co-host CHAN 2024

CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba has given Kenya a thumbs-up ahead of CHAN 2024, saying the country is 90% ready to co-host the tournament. With preparations entering the final stretch, CAF has urged Kenya to maintain its current pace

CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba has affirmed that Kenya is on course to co-host the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), describing the country as “about 90% ready” and praising ongoing efforts to upgrade facilities ahead of the tournament.

Speaking in Nairobi after the unveiling of a new global partnership between CAF and smartphone brand TECNO Mobile, Mosengo-Omba expressed confidence in Kenya’s preparations, highlighting significant progress at key venues.

“They’re already standing on a grass pitch—fantastic,” he said. “The seats are in place. The grass and drainage still need work, but for me, they are about 90% ready.”

Kenya is co-hosting CHAN 2024 alongside Uganda and Tanzania. While some infrastructure work remains, Mosengo-Omba noted that Kenya is firmly on track—provided current momentum is maintained.

“If they keep the momentum, yes, of course, they’ll be ready,” he said.

CAF’s next inspection visit—expected to be led by President Dr Patrice Motsepe—will mark the final assessment phase.

“The deadline is the next time I come. If I find the same situation as today, that will be the deadline,” Mosengo-Omba added, underscoring the importance of consistency rather than urgency.

Focus on safety as preparations advance

As part of its preparations, Kenya has also stepped up measures to enhance match-day safety and crowd control. Recent matches have drawn large crowds, prompting a renewed focus on stadium operations.

“You cannot organise serious football without making safety and security your first concern,” said Mosengo-Omba. “It’s understandable - Kenya hasn’t hosted an international match in seven years.”

To support this, CAF is running dedicated training programmes for security personnel and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) staff, which will continue through January 2025.

“We’re training police and federation officials separately. Stadium security is not the same as managing crowds outside,” he said.

TECNO Unveiled as CAF Global Partner

The General Secretary’s comments came after CAF and TECNO Mobile officially announced a global partnership in Nairobi. TECNO will serve as the Official Global Partner for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 and the East Africa-hosted 2027 edition.

“We thank CAF and its President Dr Motsepe for the vision to grow football in Africa,” said TECNO Vice President Shiming Jiang. “Together, we can achieve great things.”

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