Cecafa endorses Kenya to host Challenge Cup

Cecafa Secretary-General Nicholas Musonye addressing the media at his office at the Nyayo Stadium in the past. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |

What you need to know:

  • The Kakamega County government on Friday indicated the Bukhungu Stadium will be ready to host the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup matches in December.
  • The sport facility is currently undergoing renovation worth Sh400 million, and according to the County sports minister Robert Sumbi, will be ready for use in two months time. 
  • The Cecafa’s Executive Committee in Khartoum on Thursday endorsed Kenya to host the annual 12-nation football tournament in November and December.

The Kakamega County government on Friday indicated the Bukhungu Stadium will be ready to host the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup matches in December.

The sport facility is currently undergoing renovation worth Sh400 million, and according to the County sports minister Robert Sumbi, will be ready for use in two months time. 

The Cecafa’s Executive Committee in Khartoum on Thursday endorsed Kenya to host the annual 12-nation football tournament in November and December.

“The members expressed solidarity with Kenya over the failure to host the Africa Nations Championship (Chan) but assured Kenyans they will encourage Kenya to host the Challenge Cup in November and early December,” Cecafa Secretary general Nicholas Musonye stated.

Cecafa president Mutasim Gafar, however, warned the two-week tournament would only be staged in Kenya if the political climate was “conducive.”

“Football Kenya Federation have communicated to us about the possibility of hosting the games and we are very excited by the prospect and in fact want to host the Harambee Stars and Uganda Cranes.

We will be ready because the renovations have been approved by the Confederation of African Football,” Sumbi told Nation Sport.

“Phase one of this project is complete. All we need is to play the artificial turf and apply some finishing touches here and there.”

The Cecafa meeting also approved the agenda for the Extra ordinary meeting set for Friday that will drastically overhaul the council’s statutes and enact a new document to align with Caf and Fifa laws.

The meeting, attended by Cosafa chairman Philip Chiyangwa, also endorsed an MOU entered into by Cecafa, Cosafa and Unaf.